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HISTORY OF
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
OF NEW ZEALAND.
EX)iTi03sr IDE i_iTjx:e.
Signed by the Author.
Of this Edition only One Hundred Copies have been
printed, of which this is
No. X.fJ.
iJnvu .^-i^<^A^it^.
HISTORY OF
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
OF NEW ZEALAND.
BY
REV. JOHN DICKSON, M.A.,
TEMJJKA.
Author of "Helps to Right Living," "Protestantism versus
Romanism,' &c.
DUNEDIN:
J. WILKIE & Co., Printers and Publishers, Princes Street.
N.Z. BIBLE, TRACT, AND BOOK SOCIETY, George Street.
1899.
OPINIONS OF THE PRESS
Re Some Works already Published by the Author.
"We sincerely congratulate Mr. Dickson on the publication of
this book (' Helps to Right Living '). It exceeds our utmost expecta-
tions, and we venture to say that Mr. Dickson's most intimate friends
will be surprised at the ability displayed in the work. It has (genuine
grit and grip. The thought is strong and true, and the style lucid
and incisive. Mr. Dickson shows real mastery of the subjects with
which he deals, and we most heartily commend his book to our
readers. We should like to see it in every household in the Colony."
— The Christia7i Outlook.
" We have read Mr. Dickson's book with great interest. He
was already known to us as a champion of Protestantism against the
pretensions of Roman Catholicism. Now he appears as a moral and
religious teacher. We congratulate hira on his new venture. The
type of the book is good; the contents capital." — The Prohihitioimt.
" The reasoning is cogent, the illustrations are happy, and the
anecdotes are apt, . . A young man or woman entering life
might, with advantage, study this work, and so tain the right to
wear the white flower of a blameless life." — Otago Daily Tiine^.
RESOLUTION OF ASSEMBLY.
The General Assembly of February last passed the
following resolution : —
" That the Assembly express its satisfaction at the near publica-
tion of a History of the Presbyterian Church of N'W Zealand ; thank
Mr. Dickson for the great service be has rendered the Church in
und'-rtaking the work, and for his generous contributions from the
sale to the funds of the Church ; and accept his suggusiion that the
contribution falling to the Church be paid to the Church Extension
Fund. While taking no responsibility upon itself as to the contents
of the book, the Assembly very cordially and earnestly commend it
to the members of the Church, urging that it have a place in every
family as a means of extending information, and awakening interest
in the great work in which our Church is engaged in taking possession
of this land for Christ."
PREFACE.
The collecting of materials for this work was begun years ago by the
Eev. J. K. Elliott, B.A., of Wellington, who thought as the Church
had more than attained her jubilee, that something should be done to
preserve her records, before men who could give information had
passed away. The duties of a city charge not permitting him to
continue his investigations, he handed over the result of his labours
to the present writer, as if the minister of a more rural charge
needed something to do. In undertaking and, amid the many
engagements of an extensive pastorate, carrying through this task
de novo, the object of the Author has been to bring the important
work of this Church prominently before all its members, and aid the
cause of church extension, by showing at Home and here its clamant
needs. It has been truly a labour of love. Arrangements have been
made by which the Church definitely shares with the publishers the
pecuniary results.
The plan has been to get as much information as possible from
ministers, office-bearers, members, church records, and other sources,
and after putting the facts into the form of history, to seek revision
in the various local centres. In this way great pains, entailing
considerable correspondence, have been taken to verify all facts.
It would be impossible to mention every case of assistance,
except one said that the Church at large rendered cordial and efficient
help. We may name, however, among persons fiom whom, in
revision or otherwise, valuable suggestions and aid have been
received. Dr. Hocken, abthor of " Contributions to the Early History
of New Zealand " ; the Rev. W. Gillies ; the Rev. Jasies Patekson, in
the matter of " Church Extension " and " Church Property " ; the
Rev. Dr. Sidey, in the matter of " The Church and Education ";
the Revs. W. Watt, C. Murray, and Dr. Patox, in the matter of
" Missions ;'' the Rev. W. J. Comrie, Convener of the " Committee
on the State of Religion and Morals ; " the Rev. R. Sojimerville,
and all the Clerks of Presbyteries. The Author, however, in the
writing of the various chapters, has all through exercised what is
indispensable in a history, a free hand, and holds no one responsible
for the sentiments or setting of the work.
1 90724G
iv. PREFACE.
The Author regrets that, owing to want of space, the material of
a number of manuscripts kindly sent him could not be used, and
that for the same reason many photographs placed at his disposal
had to be left out. It will be seen that the photo;jraphs inserted are
so numerous that the publishers found it difficult in all cases to
secure suitable places for their artistic illustrations.
Owing to the treating of the charges seriatim it is hoped that no
minister or congregation will be able to complain of being entirely
ignored. An attempt has also been made, by means of a full Index,
to make the book easy of reference, and therefore of permanent
value.
Depending upon a wide circulation, the cost of the book to the
buyer has been fixed by us at a low figure, in order to bring it if
possible within the reach of the poorest member of the Church.
As it is difficult to keep a History with a mass of facts and dates
like this one free from defects, the Author will be glad to receive
corrections or suggestions from any reader, member of the Church
or otherwise, with the view to a future edition.
It is not without interest that this work is given to the public
in the year following the Jubilee of the New Hebrides Mission ; and
on the threshold of the Jubilee of the Canterbury Settlement.
" Glory to Goo in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward
men."
J. D.
The Manbe,
Temuka, N.Z.,
May, 1899.
OUTLINE OF CONTENTS.
CHAP. PAGE.
I. New Zealand for Christ . . . . . . . . 1
Loyalty to the Word of God -Three Outstanding Char-
acteristics: (1) Her Polity Apostolic; Parity of
Ministers; Elder and Bishop Identical — (2) Her
Creed Scriptural -(3) Her Aim to Elevat-j the
Masses — No Saving Ordinaneos — No Salvation by
Works — Not the Scotch Church — Her Catholicity
of Spirit — Her Missionary Zeal— Her Heroic Past —
Her Fitness for the Times — Her Future Prospects.
II. The Fikht Scotch Colony for New Zealand . . . . 17
The Send Off— The Voyage — The Passengers — Dangers
Ahead — A Eed Letter Year — Land 0! — Terra
Firma at Last—The First Service in Maori Land —
Early Trials.
III. In the Beginning at Wellington . . . . . . 31
A New Zealand Disruption — An Historic Letter of Rov.
Mr Macfarlane's — Arrival of Eev. James Duncan —
A Split in the Presbyterian Camp — The Public
Cemetery Appropriated — An Attempt to Set Up an
Anglican Edtablishment — A Good-bye to Mr. Mac-
farlane — A Statistical Table.
IV. Origins in the Wellington Province . . . . 44
Eev. J. Inglis— Unsullied Missionary Records— Eev. W.
Kirton— A Second Congregation in the City-
Appointment of Eev. John Moir— Mr. Moir's
Advent — The Hutt and Eev. W. Dron— Wanganui
and Rev. D. Hogg, of United Presbyterian Church—
Turakina and Rev. John Thom— The First Pres-
bytery.
V. Laying the Foundation at the Capital . . . . 57
Arrival of the "Duchess of Argyle " and "Jane
Gifford "— Shepherdless Sheep— Rev. W. Comrie —
Sudden Activity — A Protest Against the Education
Bill— Church Building in Early Days— Selection
of Rev. A. S. Panton— Services in a Courthouse—
The Panton Controversy— Rev. D. Bruce— Diffi-
culties Vanish.
vi. OUTLINE OF CONTENTS.
CHAP. PARE.
VI. Bbkaking Up New Ground at Auckland .. .. 71
Origin of St. James'— A Roving Independent Gaelic
Congregation — Arrivals of Bevs. J. Maoky, T.
Norrie, and R. McKinney — The First Meeting of
the Auckland Presbytery — Mr. Bruce's Subsequent
Church Extension Operations — A Colleague —
Financial Aid from the Home Churches— Prema-
ture Settlements.
VII. The Lifting of the Clouds at Nelson . . . . 88
A Visit from Rev. John JMacfarlane, Wellington — An
Exhortation from Scotland — Dependence Solely
on the Teaching Elder an Evil — The Disruption
Delays — -The Wairau Massacre — Appointment of
Rev. T. D. Nicholson — Laying the Foundation
Stone of Nelson Church — A New Zealand Creed —
Education in Nelson — April Blasts — ^Testimonial to
Mr. Nicholson — Rev. P. Calder Arrives — The
Ralph Turner Donation — Mr. Nicholson in Wairau
Valley— The Nelson Trust Fuad— The Mission of
Rev. D. Bruce — Rev. A. Russell — First Meeting of
the Nelson Presbytery.
VIII. Days of Yore at Hawke's Bay and Tabanaki . . 113
Napier — The First Meeting — Rev. P. Barclay Arrives —
A New Church — Taianaki — Troublesome Times —
Rev. Jotin Tiiom — Rev. R. F. Macnicol — Per-
severance Amid DilHculties.
IX. Eably Rays at Christchurch .. .. .. 122
Families of Early Days — Spiritual Destitution — Rev.
John Moir Calls — Under Many Disadvantages —
Organization — Established Church or Free — Oh, for
a Clever Minister ! — Rev. C. Fraser Arrives — A Large
Parish — The Addington Cemetery — Education.
X. Tbe Dawn in Nurth Canterbury . . . . . . 139
Church Extension in Early Days— Banks Peninsula—
St. Paul's, Kaiapoi — Lyttelton — Amuri — Prebble-
ton — First Meeting of the Canterbury Presbytery —
Rev. W. Hogg's Race Against Time.
XI. Daylight in South Canterbury . . . . . . 154
Rev. George Barclay, Father of South Canterbury's
System of Education and Presbyterianism — South
Canterbury in 1865 — Pioneering Difficulties — Rev.
George Lindsay — Optimism versus Pessimism —
The First Meeting of the Timaru Presbytery — Rev.
W. R. Campbell— Rev. W. Gillies.
OUTLINE OF CONTENTS. vii.
CHAP. PAGE.
XII. Better Than the Gold of Westland . . . . 170
Settlement in Westland — Mr. A. Scott writes the Pres-
bytery^Rev. John Gow's Visit to Westland —
Hokitika Charge Organised — Mr. Gow's Settlement
— Great Undertakings — A Noble Group of Office-
Bparf^rs, Messrs. A. Bonar, C. E. Button, A. Scott,
Mueller, (tc— Grey mouth — Rev. Jos. Mcintosh
with his Wife Shipwrecked on their Way — His
Work at Greymouth — Mr. Gow's Success in
We.stland— Rev. Jas. Kirkland— Mr. D. W. Virtue-
How Rev. W. Hogg Came to Assume the Pastorate
of Ross — Failure of Ross Mining — Dangerous
Journeys — The First Presbytery — Stafford —
Kumara Leaps into Prominence — Mr. Hogg Leaves
for Sydney.
Xlil. The Difficulties of Ecclesiastical Pioneering .. 192
Undefined Parishes — Trudging on Foot — Bullock
Riding— Clerical First Attempts at Riding — A
Probationer's Troubles — Fording Rivers — Stuck
Fast on a Bridge — Lost in the Bush — Places of
Worship — Wairau Massacre — Attack on tlie Puke-
kohe Church — How Dr. Elmslie got his War
Medal— A Mixed Membership —The Wild Grapes
of Judah.
XIV, New Defartures . . . • . . . . . . 222
1. The First Meeting of the General Assembly. 2. A
Minimum Stipend and an Aged and Infirm
Ministers Fund. 3. The Legislative Recognition
of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. 4. An
Examination Board for Theological Students and
their Course of Study. 5. The Principle of the
Barrier Act to be Adopted in Important Cases.
6. Marriage with a Deceased Wife's Sister. 7. An
Authorised Hymnal. 8. The General Assembly
and Ministers of Other Churches Applying for
Admission. 9. A Book of Order. 10, Tenure of
Ministeiial Office. 11. A Marked Temperance
Deliverance. 12. A New Departure in the Forei<.'n
Mission Field. 13. Increase of the Scholarship
Endowment Scheme. 14. Adoption of the Declara-
tory Act.
XV. Church Extension.. .. .. .. ..244
The Duty of the Church— The Strong Helping thf
Weak— The Danger of Looking Back — Legislation
of the First General Assembly —Rev. D. Brucc's
viii. OUTLINE OF CONTENTS.
CHAP. PAGE.
Church Extension Tour— Kev. C. Eraser's Work-
Liberal Congregations — The Canterbury Church
Extension Association — Aims of the Church
Extension Scheme — A Sustentation Fund Tried —
Work Done — Large Districts Unsupplied With
Ordinances— A Call to Arms.
XVL Church and Education . . . . . • • • 257
The Presbyterian Church Constitutionally a Friend of
Education — The Church of the People — The
Churches of the Reformation and the Bible — John
Knox's Scheme of Education for Scotland — Educa-
tion in the Mission Field — The First High School
in Canterbury — Champions of Education Past and
Present— Educational Work of Rev. G. Barclay in
South Canterbury — Difficulties of the Northern
Church — The Church's First Pronouncement on
Education in 1863— A Theological Hall for Both
Churches— Her Efforts to Raise the Standard of
Education in the Colleges and University — A
National and Undenominational System of Educa-
tion — The Bible in the Public School— University
Honours.
XVn. The Chdbch and the Press . . . . . . 273
The Value of a Free Press —The Press with no Gospel
of its Own — The Restraints of Public Opinion —
The Growth of the Press — A Newspaper Reading
Public — The Power of the Press — The Advantages
of a Sympathetic Attitude — What New Zealand
Presbyterian Church has Here Done — The Outlook
—Other Ways of Utilising the Prese.
XVin. Missions .. .. .. .. ..285
(1) The Foreign Mission — The Story of the Dayspring.
(2) The Maori Mission. (3) The Chinese Mission.
XIX. Church Property. . . . . . . . . . 306
Want of Uniformity in Titles— Discipline Weakened—
A Model Trust Deed Inoperative — Mr. W. S.
Reid's Services— Act of 1875— Church Property
Act of 1885— A Central Board of Trustees— The
Trust Funds.
XX. Tabulated Facts and Figures . . . . . . 311
OUTLINE OF CONTENTS.
MULTUM IN PARVO—
Auckland Pkesbyteet
Wellington
Christchdech
Hawkes' Bay
Nklson
TlMAKU
Westland
Wanganui
INDEX OF NAMES AND SUBJECTS
IX.
PAGE.
319
340
351
366
372
376
381
386
395
INDEX OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Gekebal Abseublt
Frontispiece
Page
Adamson, Rev. A. H.
4()9
Akaroa Chukch and Manse
455
Alexander, Rkv. A.
521
Am-AN, Kev. R. S.
481
Ai.lswokth, Rev. R. J.
501
Anderson, Mr. J.
459
AsHBUKTON Church and
Manse
475
Auckland Presbytery
407
„ St. Andrew's
Church
409
,, St. David's Church
431
,, St. Jajies' Church
328
,, St. James', Office-Beareks of
423
Badger, Mr. R. . .
427
Bannatyne Rev. J.
. .
501
Barclay, Rev. G. . .
204
Barclay, Rev. P. . .
48C
Beattie, Rev. A. M.
475
Bibir, Native Teacher
569
Blake, Rev. H. . .
303
Blenheim— St. Andrew"
s Church, Old and
SfEW . . 499
Bonar, Mr. a.
529
Bonny Glen Church
541
Bbookside Church and
Office-Beabeks
473
Brown, Mrs.
142
Brown, Mb. T. ..
531
Brownlee, Mr G.
531
Bruce. Rev, D.
..110,409
Button, Mr. C. E.
179
Cairns, Rev. T. R,
481
Calder, Rev. P . .
495
Campbell, Rev. J.
469
Canterbury Pioneek.s
..557,559
Cabbick, Rev. A. , .
.
409
I
INDEX OF ILLUSTRATIONS. xi
Pagf.
Chetne, Mb. J. . . . . . . . . . . 545
Chinese Mission School, Greymouth . . . . 573
Cheistchurch in Early Days . . . . . . 465
,, Old St. Paul's Chdrcu . • . . 459
„ Presbytery . . . . . . 451
„ St. Andrew's — Old Church, New
Church, and Manse • . . . 453
,, St. Paul's Church and Manse . . 461
,, St. Paul's Session . . . . 463
Clark, Mr. Archibald . . . . . . • • 66
Clarke, Rev. J. . . . . . . • . • • 523
CojiRiE, Rev. W. J. .. .. .- •• 523
Coromandel Church and Manse . . . . . . 429
Cokruth, Mr. J. . . . . . . • • • • 419
Craig, Mr. D. .. .. .. .. •• 453
CusT Church and Manse . . • . . . • • 477
Deans, Mr. J.
Deans, Mr. J., Jon.
Dickson, Rev. J. . .
DiNWiDDiE, Rev. W.
Douglas, Rev. A. F.
Douglas, Rev. W.
DouLL, Rev. A. . .
Druey— Old Church and Present Church
,, Present Session . .
Duncan, Rev. J. . .
Dunne, Rev. T. W.
Elmslie, Rev. Dr.
Emsley, Mb. W. ..
Faiblie Church and Manse
Ferguson, Rev. R.
FiNDLAY, Rev. W. F.
FiNLAY, Rev. J. B.
Fletchke, Rev. H.J.
Forrester, Mr. J.
Fraser, Mr. J. . .
Frasee, Rev. C. . .
Fbaseb, Rev. T. M., M.A.,
Fulton, Rev. D. . .
Gavin, Mb. W. . .
Gillies, Rev. and Mrs. Alex.
453
127
513
453
459
529
485
412a
412a
301
412
461
429
523
417
412
455
302
481
429
132
431
445
459
571
INDEX OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Gillies, Rev. W. . .
GeEALDIXE CltDECH, MiXISTEK AND OFFICEBEARERS OF
,. Oi.D Church, Present Church, and Manse
Glasgow, Mr.
GoRDAN, Rev. D.
Gorrte, Rev. J.
Gow, Rev. J.
Gow, Rev. J.
Gow, Rev. W.
Grant, Rev. A.
Grant, Rev. G.
Grant, Rev. W.
Gray, Rev. A.
Great Plain, The
Greymouth Church and Manse
Hart, Mr. A.
Hastings Church and Manse
Hay, Mr. E.
Hay, Mr. J.
Hay, Rev. P. S. . .
Headrick, Rev. J.
Hill, Rev. J.
Hogg, Rev. D.
Hogg, Rev. W. . .
HoKiTiKA Church and Manse
Howie, Mb. A.
Hunterville Church and Manbe
HuNUA Church
Hutcheson, Mr. J. M.
HuTTON, Mr. P. W.
Inolis, Rev. G. B.
Inglis, Rkv. John
Irvine, Mb. R. . .
Johnson, Mb. W. . .
Kaiapoi — Old Church, New Church, and Makbe
Kelly, Rev. H. . .
Lekston Church and Manse
,, Sesbion . .
Lem, Mr.
Lincoln Church . .
Page.
.507
519
517
541
513
419
467
176
457
491
459
471
439
465
531
507
491
141
499
427
427
425
195
147
529
545
549
41 2a
499
507
475
45
517
48.5
457
511
471
473
H04
4cy.)
INDEX OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
LiMDSAY, Rev. G. . .
LoBURN' Church
LooAN, Mr. R.
Lyttelton in Early Days . .
,, Church and Maxse
Macdoxald, Mr. A.
Macfarlane, Mr. W.
MacGowan, Rev. W.
Macgbegor, Rev. R.
Macqregor, Rev. W.
Macintosh, Mr. . .
Macky, Rev. J. . .
Macky, Rev. John
Mahurangi — St. Columba . .
Napier — St. Paul's Church
Marshall, Mrs. . . ...
Martin, Rev. D. and Office-Bearers
Marton Church and Manse
Masterton Church and Manss
Matakana Church . .
Mathie-on, Mr. J.
McCallum, Rev. N.
McClixton, Mr. R.
McGowan, Rev. W. S.
McIntosh, Rev. J.
McIvoR, Mb.
McKee, Rev. David
McKee, Rev. J.
McKee, Rev. J. . .
McKellar, Rev. J.
McKenzie, Rev. J.
McKenzie, Rev. J. H.
McKinney, Rev. R.
McLean, Mr. A. H.
McLean, Mr. D. . .
McLean, Rev. D, . .
McLennan, Rev. A.
McLennan, Rev. D.
McLeod, Rev. Norjian
McRae, Mr. G. . .
Milne, Rev. J.
Monro, Rev. P. R.
Morrison, Rev. A. S.
Morrison, Rkv. R. C.
Page.
511
485
499
465
467
517
545
439
457
457
513
411
74
417
489
471
549
543
445
417
545
477
477
467
467
541
361
445
511
485
425
495
417
523
523
455
427
521
73
99
409
481, 485
491
455
INDEX OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Mt. Eomont, View of . . . . . . . .
Mueller, Mr.
Murray, Rkv. C, and Wairarapa South Session
Nelson — Present Church, Interior of Present Church
Old Church and Manse
Nelson Session . .
Ness Valley Church
New Hebrides— Kwamera — Mission Buh^dinos
,, Memorial Window
., ,, Missionaries
., ,. Mission Scenes
,, ,, Port Resolution Church and House
,, ,, Synod
,, ,, Tanna, The First Communicants of
,, ,, Watt, Mrs. — Her Grave
Paqk.
117
180
447
Newin^, Mr. H. . .
Nicholson, Rev. T. D.
Norrie, Rev. T. . , .. .. .. 78,
NoRRiE, Rev. T. A.
North Island Pioneers
Old Timaru
Onehunga — Old Church, New Church, and Manse
Otahuhu Church . .
Oxford Church . .
Palmerston North, Office-bearers op
Papakura Church and Manse
Papakura First Session
Parnell — Laying Foundation Stone of Knox Church
Paterson, Rev. J.
Paterson, Rev. J. G.
Picton — St. Paul's Church, Old and New
Pioneers of Nelson and Marlborough
Pleasant Point Church and Manse
Porter, Rkv. R. J.
PuKEKOHE Church and Manse
PuKEKOHE East Church
Rakaia — St. Andrew's Church
Ranoiora Church and Mansk
Reid, Mr. J.
Reid, Mb. W. S. ..
Renwick, Dr.
495
497
413
569
569
567
569
569
565
569
569
545
95
323, 413
429
553, 555
507
417
411
477
547
413
415
433
441
489
501
561
521
4(;9
412
212, 412
479
485
409
307
100
INDEX OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Page
Renwicktown Church, Old and New
499
,, Mr. Nicholson's Manse
107
,, Mr. Nicholson's Chhrch
108
Riddle, Rev. P. and Elders
479
Ring, Mr. J.
531
RoBB, Rev. W. 0.
499
Rodger, Rev. D. . .
483
Ross, Rev. J.
541
Russell, Rev. A.
499
Rybukn, Rev. R. M.
537
Scott, Mr. A. . .
529
Scott, Mr. Archibald
173
Scott, Rev. T. . .
427
Shearer, Mr. J. . .
409
Sherriffs, Rev. W.
499
SiDEY, Rev, Dr. . .
489
Simpson, Rev. J. M.
481
Sinclair, Mr. J. . .
499
Smart, Mr. J. . .
409
Southbridge Church
483
Smellie, Rev. J. . .
485
Steele, Rev. D. J., M.A. ..
411
Stewart, Rev. W.
543
Stowell, Rev. G. K.
501
Strang, Mr.
31
Sydenham Church
481
TAir, Rev. A. M. . .
429
Tauranga Church
427
Temuka Church and Manse
513
„ „ Session . ,
515
Thames — Old Church and Present Church
425
Thom, Rkv. John . .
439
Timauu — Church, Rev. W. Gillies and OFncE-BEARERfe
OF 509
„ Old Church, New Church, and Manse
507
,, Presbytery
505
Todd, Mrs, W. . .
150
Treadwfxl, Late Rev. James
537
Treadwell, Rev. A. H. ..
467
TuRAKiNA Church and Manse
541
Upper Hutt — Knox Church
439
ViRXUB, Mr. D. W.
186
xvi.
INDEX OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Waddeix, Rev. Dr.
Waik-vbi Church . .
Waimate Church and Manse
Waibarapa South Church and M.vnsk
Wairoa— Old and New Church
Waipukurau Church and Manse
Wairau Massacre — Scene of the
Wallace, Rev. J.
Wanganui Presbytery
,, St. Paul's Church and Manse
,, Session of St. Paul's . .
Waverley — St. Andrew's Church and Manse
Webster, Mr. J. . .
Webster, Rev. G.
Wellinoton - Presbytery . .
,, St. Andrew's Church
„ St. John's
,, St. John's Session
West, Rev. R. S.
West, Rev. W. . .
Westland Presbytery
Whangabei Church and Manse
,, Church Session
White, Rev. J.
White, Rev. W
Wilson, Mr.
Wilson, Mrs.
Wilson, Mr. J.
Wood, Rev. R.
Wright, Rev. A. M.
Page.
469
483
511
447
413
491
94
419
535
537
539
545
477
453
437
340
441
443
431
483
527
419
421
521
521
541
523
523
445
469
HISTOEY OF
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
OF NEW ZEALAND.
CHAPTER I.
NEW ZEALAND FOR CHRIST.
Loyalty to the Word of God— Three Outstanding Characteristics :
(1) Her Polity Apostolic; Parity of Ministers ; Elder and Bishop
Identical — (2) Her Creed Scriptural — (3) Her Aim to Elevate the
Masses — No Saving Ordinances — No Salvation by Works— Not
the Scotch Church — Her Catholicity of Spirit — Her Missionary
Zeal— Her Heroic Past— Her Fitness for the Times— Her Future
Prospects.
This is the motto which it becomes the Presbyterian
Church, true to her origin, constitution, and history, to
adopt in the Brighter Britain. Under its inspiration it
behoves ministers, office-bearers, and members to enter
upon and prosecute their work. New Zealand for Christ I
This is the noblest ideal any man or company of men can
set up. Macaulay, speaking of a golden era in the history
of the Roman Empire, says :
" Then none was for a party ;
Then all were for the state ;
Then the great man helped the poor,
And the poor man loved the great."
2 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Now it is quite true that if that condition of affairs
were realised in modern politics we should have made no
mean advance, but New Zealand for Christ is a far nobler
conception, and proportionately more destructive of selfish-
ness and party strife. Is the Presbyterian Church so con-
stituted as to be capable of translating this great thought
into action ? Can her members, in lengthening her cords
and strengthening her stakes conscientiously say, " We
are establishing the kingdom of Christ ?" Our Church's
triumphant answer to these important questions is to be
found in her loyalty to the Word of God.
It is the glory of the Presbyterian Church that her
doctrine, government, and worship are all *' founded on,
and agreeable to, the Word of God."' No Church could
appeal more unwaveringly to the law and the testimony
than she has done. In this she is following noble pre-
cedents. Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost, which
marked the birthday of Gospel preaching, and was so
signally honoured, was full of quotations from Old Testa-
ment Scriptures. So was the preaching of Paul and the
other apostles, of Stephen, and of Clirist Himself. The
Reformers were distinguished for being men of one book.
The people liked to hear them preach because their sermons
smelled of the "myrrh and cassia." Who swayed the
people like Chalmers, of whose discourses it has been said,
" They held the Bible in solution ?" Herein is the safety
of our Church and our religion. So long as we adhere to
these lines there will be no danger of our getting lost in
the puzzling mazes of human tradition, or sinking in the
shifting sand of human expediency, or splitting on the
adamantine rocks of ignorance, pride, and self-righteousness.
So loyal is the Presbyterian Church to revealed truth
that she scorns the mere non - prohibited in doctrine,
THREE OUTSTANDING CHAEACTERISTICS. 3
government, and worship. The non-prohibited is the
downward path that leads to Romanism and Ritualism,
with all their vanities and vexations of spirit. On all
vital subjects she demands a " Thus saith the Lord." She
hath three outstanding characteristics.
Her polity is that of the early Church, as founded by
the Apostles. Her creed is a strictly Scriptural creed, and
her aim and influence has always been to secure the
enlightenment and elevation of the masses after the
manner of Christ, and, when He was gone. His divinely-
commissioned disciples. Let us examine these marks
separately.
(1) Her polity is that of the early Church, as founded by
the Apostles. This is not one of the least differentiating
characteristics. It is the government of the Church that
has given to our communion the name Presbyterian,
although the title has come to signify very much more
than that. To show that this government cannot be taken
up or laid down at pleasure it is sufficient to point out
that doctrine, government, and worship are stones in our
spiritual temple tied together by the Head Corner Stone,
Jesus Christ. No one of these can be removed without
endangering the safety of the whole structure. This is
why we lay such stress on our ecclesiastical polity. Its
key-stone is the favourite key-stone of the Presbyterian
building, i.e., the headship of Christ. Out of this comes
naturally the parity of ministers.
No Pope or other high ecclesiastic is permitted
to lord it over God's heritage. This is both a beautiful
and a fundamental principle of the Presbyterian Church.
What more becoming than that Jesus Christ, the
King and Head of* the Church, should be "exalted far
above all principalities and power, and might, and
4 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
domiuion, and every name that is named," and that His
office-bearers, elders, and deacons, instead of disputing the
pre-eminence with Him or with one another, should form
an humble, united, and affectionate brotherhood, whose
one aim is to glorify their risen Lord. How fitting that
the disciples, in the absence of their glorified Master,
should meet for conference and encouragement, government
and discipline, on an equality of footing in all Church
courts, and, taking united action in establishing the
kingdom of God, cease not to labour until in the brother-
hood of loving, lowly service " the whole round earth be
everywhere bound by golden chains about the feet of God."
This is a voluntary and intelligent union, and therefore
the closest and most permanent of all unions. Without
destroying any man's independence, it puts the whole
Church en rapport with the exhortation of Christ : " Bear
ye one another's burdens." The unity which Episcopacy
secures by a hierarchy of officers, Presbytery secures by a
gradation of Councils. Elder and bishop it holds with
good reason to be identical.
The highest office in the Presbyterian Church,
is that of elder, and one of the oldest offices in the
world. It can be traced back to the very beginning of
Israel's history as a chosen people. It has had distinguished
occupants; Peter rejoiced to be able to say: "who am
also an elder." The office of bishop is not superior to it.
Presbuteros (elder) and episcopos (bishop) were identical
in the Apostolic Church, according to Clement and
Polycarp, and the most distinguished theologians of the
modern Protestant Episcopal Church. Professor Sanday
affirms it. Canon Gore, the acknowledged leader of the
High Anglican party, admits it, and even Langen, the
eminent historical critic of the Romish Church, views it
as beyond dispute. It follows that the Presbyterian Church
ELDER AND BISHOP IDENTICAL. 5
is the true Episcopal Church of New Testament times.
To put down unscriptural pretentions, it might do worse
than empower and encourage all its ministers to take to
themselves the title of bishop. Under that appellation of
dignity, they might do no better work than heretofore,
bat 250 bishops in New Zealand, and a proportionate
number throughout the world, would leave no doubt on
the minds of any as to the primitive and scriptural
significancy of the term bishop. It might result in a
blessing to mankind.
" One is your Master," says the Great Teacher, " and
all ye are brethren." This explains why we demur to
ministers of the Gospel being dignified with high-sounding
titles. Take the word priest. No servant of Christ has
any right to it. Though it is as Milton puts it, " Presbyter
writ large," the idea of sacrifice has in modern parlance
come to be inseparably associated with it, and immediate
access to God for all on the ground of the one great
sacrifice of Jesus Christ is a fundamental principle of the
Reformed Faith. The battle between priestism and
prophetism was decided two thousand years ago, when
priestism perished and prophetism became the glory of the
New Testament Church. The only priesthood we now
recognise is the priesthood of believers, and that is the
principle which underlies the eldership. In this unity and
continuity of the people of God is to be found the true
apostolic succession. The Church in all its ages is in
immediate contact with Christ, and is dependent on no
broken or leaky viaduct. There is no conception of the
Church so lofty as that it is the Church of the Living
God.
(2) JJer creed is a strictly Scrijitural creed. The
story of its birth is a very interesting one. It was
put into its present form by the Westminster divines.
6 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
These divines were called together by the Long Parliament
in the 17th century, to settle the doctrine, government, and
liturgy of the Church of England. They met with their
Bibles in their hands, and were sworn to maintain nothing
but what was " most agreeable to the word of God." The
solemn oath they took was read anew every Monday
morning, that its influence might pervade the whole
assembly. They were all intellectual and spiritual-minded
men, specially selected for their gifts and graces. They
were entirely free from all outside pressure. The Scotch
element was numerically an insignificant moiety. Of one
hundred and fifty-seven literati, only six were from Scotland.
The rest were English commoners, English lords, and
more especially English divines. Of the six Scotchmen
two were laymen, and not one of the six had a right to
vote on any disputed question. They were really not
members of the Assembly, properly speaking, at all. Yet,
strange to relate, the result of their labours was " The
Directory of Public Worship," " The Confession of Faith,"
and " The Shorter and Larger Catechisms," the first two
being afterwards ratified by both Houses of Parliament.
These constitute the standards which we have adopted as
a Church, and found admirably to express our views of holy
writ. Curious it is that our formularies are English rather
than Scotch in their origin. It is just another instance of
the oft- noticed fact that where any people are left free to
organise a Church they invariably give to it a Presbyterian
constitution. The reformers of all lands in the sixteenth
century, with one exception, making diligent search, came
substantially to the same conclusion.
The Scriptural character of the Creed given us by this
English Assembly of divines is prominently shown in the
place it accords to, and the emphasis it lays on, justification
HER CREED SCRIPTURAL. 7
by faith. Dean Stanley, in the last essay he wrote,
acknowledged that the Confession of Faith excels all other
creeds in (a) " the warmth with which it sets forth the
beauty and human tenderness of Christ ; (b) the freedom of
the human will, it being the only great creed which
emphasises that." This from an outsider is strong praise,
and very timely in a restless age when some within the pale
of the Church seek to disparage that historic document.
A creed is only a light-holder ; to declaim against it is to
act like the savage who, walking through the streets of
London at night, complained that the lamp-posts were an
obstruction to traffic.
(3) Her aim has always been to secure the enlightenment
and elevation of the masses. She does not believe in a
Church without a people, any more than in a people without
a Church. This shows that hers is not a worldly ambition.
" When that the poor have cried, CsBsar hath wept :
Ambition should be made of sterner stuff."
She follows the example of her Master in seeking to lift
up the very lowest strata of society with the lever of
Gospel truth, that all mankind may enjoy the birthright
of heaven's light, and be brought nearer to God. To do
this effectually her ministers themselves must be thoroughly
imbued with the truth. They must be educated, and an
educated ministry is very appropriately associated with the
other two characteristics already mentioned. Unlettered
men would be open to the charge of not understanding
what the Bible really contains. It is a matter for great
thankfulness to God that the Church which more than
any other takes the Bible for its guide should be also the
one which insists most strenuously on the high education
of hei ministers. They are compelled to have a competent
8 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
acquaintance with the original languages of Scripture,
with Biblical criticism and theology, and to possess all the
training that will enable them clearly to comprehend, and
rightly to divide the Word of Truth, We have been some-
times blamed for laying too much stress on teaching and
preaching. Our services, it is said, ought to be more
devotional. Doubtless they should, but ignorance will not
make them such. God can have little pleasure in the
praise and prayer which are offered up by unenlightened
souls. It brings little glory to Him. A blind homage is
not worship, nor is it loyalty to Jesus Christ. Hence, " Let
there be light " is a key to all our services, and this light
radiating out to the Church's remotest extremities consti-
tutes, as we shall see in a subsequent chapter, a striking
feature of the Presbyterian Church. We aim at the
humblest of our Church members being able to give a
reason for the hope that is in them, and to say of the
Presbyterian ship :
"We know what Master laid thy keel,
What workmen wrought thy ribs of steel ;
Wbo made each mast, and sail, and rope ;
What anvils rang, what hammers beat,
In what a forge, and what a heat,
Were shaped the anchors of Thy hope."
In the Headship of Christ lies also the secret of our
abjuration of all saving ordinances, and the simplicity of
our Presbyterian worship. The dogma, for instance, that
baptism is necessary for salvation, which Calvin and Pres-
byterianism flung away at the time of the Reformation, can
in no age have a congenial place in our Church, nor any
other doctrine or embellishment in worship which dis-
honours Christ. Presbyterianism is anti-ritualistic. Of a
ritualistic Church we may say :
NO SALVATION BY WORKS. 9
" Th' adorning thee with so much art
Is but a barbarous skill,
'Tis like the poisoning of a dart,
Too apt before to kill."
For a similar reason we do not believe in salvation by
works. Komanism and Arminianism, which have not a few
things in common, we equally shun for the sake of the glory
we owe to our sovereign Lord, and re-echo the watchword
of the Eeformation, which was the watchword of Paul,
" Justification by faith."
We see then what an important doctrine in the Pres-
byterian Church is the Headship of Christ. It is a prin-
ciple which, all along the line of her history, she has
jealously guarded and tenaciously held fast. In defence of
it the blood of some of ber noblest sons has been shed.
All rulers, civil and ecclesiastical alike, who have attempted
to sit in the seat of Christ have been opposed by her to the
death. Who has not heard of the noble testimony and
trials of the Waldenses and Albigenses in France and Italy,
and the Reformers in Germany, on account of their abjura-
tion of Pope and Popery. When, in Elizabeth's day, to
get rid of Papal rule, the Queen of England was declared to
be the head of both Church and State, and an oath of
allegiance to her as such required of all ministers of the
Gospel and civil officers, it was just the same. The Puritans
of England preferred to be fined and imprisoned, and
dubbed with the name of Non-Conformists. Again, when
in the days of Charles II., an infatuated attempt was made
to force Episcopacy on Scotland, the Covenanters stained
the heath with their blood, contending "for Christ's Crown
and Covenant." The " Ten Years' Conflict," which was
raging in Scotland when the first Scotch Colony started for
New Zealand, was no mere hair-splitting, but the outcome
10 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTEEIAN CHURCH.
of conscientious, deep-seated loyalty to Christ. It virtually
resulted in the complete spiritual independence of all
branches of the Presbyterian Church throughout the world.
Nay, all Christendom came through it to have a clearer
knowledge of
" Both spiritual power and civil ; what each means,
What severs each."
Surely if there is any Church on earth which can con-
sistently take for its motto — " New Zealand for Christ "—
it is the Presbyterian Church. You will hear men some-
times say that they are Christians first and Presbyterians
afterwards, using the latter word in its very lowest sense.
No doubt, as in other communions, there are many who
belie their profession, and deny Christ ; but that is no fault
of the Church. If a man be true to her history, and true
to her principles, and, above all, loyal to her King and
Head, he is a Christian of a most excellent kind. Such an
one can pray for her peace and prosperity, give liberally
for the support of her ordinances at home and abroad, and
labour incessantly for her advancement everywhere, with-
out feeling that he is in any way open to the charge of
being a blind partisan or bigot, [f our Church were named
after some distinguished Reformer and its government
founded on human expediency the case would be different.
We reverence the Reformers as moral heroes who brought
back the Church to her first moorings in the safe harbours
of Bible truth, but we view them, notwithstanding as men
of like passions with ourselves.
In the same way, and for a similar reason, we object
to our Church being named after a particular country. It
is not " the Scotch Church," as many Colonists in their
thoughtlessness designate it. Its foundation stone was
not laid in Scotland, its standards did not originate there,
NOT THE SCOTCH CHURCH. 11
and it is not to-day confined to Scotland or Scotclimen.
With its divine equipment and God-given mission it has
gone into all lands and taken root in every soil.
Her catholicity of spirit is everywhere manifest. The
Presbyterian Church is the true Catholic Church. Her loyalty
to the Lord Jesus Christ makes her catholic through and
through. She cordially endorses the saying of Ignatius,
" Where Christ is, there is the Catholic (general) Church."
She accepts without demur the liberalism of Farrar, who,
fighting against sacerdotalism, argues, "Where the fruits
of the Spirit are, the Spirit Himself is ; where the Spirit is,
Christ is; and where Christ is, the Church is." This does not
make Church organisation a matter of indifference. We dis-
tinguish between the hein/j and the well-heimi of a Church.
For us no organisation is possible but that of New Testa-
ment Presbyterianism, but if another body of Christian
men, acting up to their light, adopt a different polity, we
do not on that account refuse to them the name of Chris-
tian. This is for us the only tenable position. The
charity which sees an equal amount of good in everything
is not far removed from the indifference which sees no
special good in anything. Loyalty to our own Church,
however, instead of compelling us to unchurch other
denominations, restrains us from unchurching any ecclesias-
tical organisation where Christ and His Word are preached
and His sacraments administered. Hence the Presby-
terian Church is the most catholic of all Churches. No
Church can show more Christian work done by her
members outside her own communion. The lists of Bible,
tract, and other philanthropic societies show that no bene-
ficent scheme appeals to the liberality of her sons in vain.
The widening circles of her presbyteries, synods, and
General Assembly help to broaden men's minds, and to
12 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
lift them out of mere local, domestic, and provincial views.
It is said that you cannot speak five minutes to a member
of another Church on a religious topic without discovering
the communion to which he belongs, but that you will talk
a long time to a Presbyterian before you will find that out.
Calvin displayed a truly Presbyterian spirit when he wrote
to the English Reformer, Cranmer, that he " would gladly
cross five seas to bring about the unity of the Reformed
Church of God," and Zwingli had far the better of Luther
when, notwithstanding their differences, he held out to him
the right hand of fellowship, and the latter declined it.
The first journal issued by the Pan-Presbyterian
Council was called " The Catholic Presbyterian." This,
perhaps more than anything else, has contributed to the
influence of Presbyterianism to-day. The saying of the
working man, " We believe in Christianity ^ but not in
Churchianity," has no meaning when applied to us. Dr.
Martineau, the eminent Unitarian divine, bears a good
testimony when he says, " The Presbyterian Church has
presented to the world an example of Church government
the most brotherly, the most beneficent, and the most
Christian."
"Could wc forbear dispute and practice love,
We should agree as angels do above."
Her missionary zeal is conspicuous. Canon Robert-
son in his tables has shown that the Presbyterian
Church is the most generous of all the Churches,
and the average stipend paid to its ministers and
missionaries higher. This is a fair test of religious
conviction. The Church, which like many of the great
religions of the heathen world, is restricted to a particular
area, and which perhaps oven there allows its agencies to
languish for want of funds is not worth censure. It
HEK HEROIC PAST. 13
stands ipso facto condemned. It is one of the glories of
the Presbyterian Church that its missionaries are to be
found in ahiiost all heathen lands.
Consider her heroic past. Who is not proud of
the history of the Waldenses of Italy, the Huguenots
of France, the Puritans of England, the Covenanters
of Scotland, the Pilgrim Fathers of New England,
the Calvinists of Switzerland, and the victims of the
Inquisition in Spain and the Netherlands. These men
have placed the whole world under a deep debt of
gratitude. We owe to them, under God, our civil and
religious liberty. In grappling with secular despotism and
ecclesiastical tyranny they were contending for the rights
of man. Presbyterians have always been foremost in the
battle for freedom, both in the Church and the State. It
is well that our Presbyterian young colonials should know
what a noble part the Church of their fathers has played
in the history of the world. This generation, and especially
these Colonies, are so occupied with the present that the
records of the past are often entirely ignored. This should
not be so. The past has many lessons to teach ; if we
are to progress we must learn them. Listen to the
testimony of history : Froude, an Anglican, says of the
Calvinists : " But for them the Reformation would have
been crushed." Morley, an Agnostic, asserts : " To omit
Calvin from the forces of Western evolution is to read
history with one eye shut." Mark Pattison, another
Anglican, exclaims : " Calvinism saved Europe." Pro-
fessor Corner, of Berlin, who, although a distinguished
Protestant, was never a partisan, writes: " Presbyterianism
is the muscular system of Christianity ; where the call is to
do or dare for truth, the Church is in the van." Dean
Stanley frankly says : " Every Episcopalian ought to be
thankful for the existence of a living Church, which shows
14 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
that outside of Prelacy Christian life and truth can flourish,
even should they fail among the Episcopal communions."
Professor A. A. Hodge, of Princeton, sums up his reading
of history thus : —
" It is an historic fac' , acknowledged by such impartial
witnesses as Sir James Mackintosh, Froude, and Bancroft, that
Presbyterian principles revolutionised Western Europe and her
populations, and inaugurated modern history. As to their influence
upon civil as well as religious liberty, and upon national education,
it is only necessary to cite the post-Reformation history of Geneva,
Holland, the history of the Huguenots in France, the Puritans of
England, the Presbjterians of Scotland, and the founders of the
American Republic."
No wonder the Emperor Frederic III. of Germany
said, "I am proud to belong to this heroic Church; its
martyrs are in every land." Like Professor Drummond's
monkey, it is a Church that " will not kill." With such a
record it cannot die. It will never lack adherents in any
age.
Her fitness for the times is evident to all. We
live in a democratic age. Milton, who argued that
peoples were before kings and rulers, that kings and rulers
exist for the people, that people can never be the property
of any office or official, passing like an inheritance from
father to son, which is the most intolerable of all tyrannies,
would be delighted were he now in our midst. Our popular
system of government is in sympathy with the times. It
has anticipated them by thousands of years. It possessed
at the beginning what other Churches have been acquiring
by slow experience. Other communions have with much
benefit to themselves been modifying their Church govern-
ments on Presbyterian lines. More than one of them have
been following our example in the matter of gathering their
forces into general councils on a popular basis, equal voice
of lay representatives iu Church courts, ministerial parity,
HER FITNESS FOR THE TIMES. 15
and the right of the people to elect their own office-bearers.
These are all democratic principles which the Presbyterian
Church has long embraced in their entirety, and which
other Churches are now adopting to a greater or less extent.
Independency has its Unions, and the English Church its
Synods and lay representatives. The late Dr. Pope was
voicing the opinion of Wesleyan scholars themselves when
he affirmed that "modern Wesleyanism in England is the
old Puritan Presbyterianism rising up again, with what is
practically a Presbyterian Church government with a some-
what altered doctrinal aspect." The Presbyterian Church
stands as the pioneer to the two great principles now rigidly
united in modern politics— the equality of all men and the
right of self-government. All along these principles have
found clear expression in her creed and constitution, her
testimony and her strivings. Doubtless this accounts for
her rapid extension in younger countries where democracy
finds its fullest development. She is essentially a democratic
Church ; the Church of the people.
What is her present position and influence ? Behm
and Wagner, the highest authorities on such a subject,
set down Reformed Presbyterians at thirty millions and
Lutherans at a still higher figure. Rev. J. N. Ogilvie,
M.A., has communicated with Church leaders in all lands,
and gone very carefully into the matter. In one of the
Guild Text Books edited by Dr. Charteris, Edinburgh, and
Dr. McClymont, Aberdeen, and published in 1896, he
informs us that Presbyterians, exclusive of Lutherans,
number at least twenty-four milUon souls, and that Metho-
dists, even including the two very distinct Churches of
England and America, come second, and only number twenty
million adherents. All reputable religious statisticians are
agreed that the Presbyterian Church at this moment is the
16 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTEEIAN CHURCH.
largest Protestant Church in the world. If the Lutherans
be reckoned with the Presbyterians proper, with whom they
are more closely allied than with any others, they will be,
as Behm and Wagner point out, more numerous than all
the other Protestant communions put together. The
majority of the National Churches of Europe will then be
Presbyterian. The glory of Presbyterianism, however,
does not consist in State connection. It rather lies in its
being independent of all political props and free from all
political complications, in being adapted to all lands. It
is well known that the majority of the Presidents of
America have been Presbyterians. In the Republic the
great oflfices of State are largely adorned by her sons.
Great as her numerical strength is, the Presbyterian
Church exercises an influence more potent than her numbers
would lead one to expect. This is due to the uniform
culture of her ministers, and the industry, intelligence, and
law-abiding character of her members.
What are her future prospects ? They are bright
with hope. Her past history, her suitability for the times,
her zeal in the matter of education as well as in piety and
in every good and beneficent work, her catholicity of
spirit, and above all her Scriptural principles ensure that
she shall continue " throughout all generations."
"Ye seed of Israel's chosen race,
Ye ransomed of the fall ;
Hail Him who saves you by His grace,
And crown Him Lord of all."
THE SEND OFF. 17
CHAPTER 11.
THE FIRST SCOTCH COLONY FOR NEW ZEALAND.
The Send Off-The Voyage— The Passengers— Dangers Ahead— A
Red-Letier Year— Land !— Terra Firma at Last— The First
Service in Maori Land— Early Trials.
The leaves of autumn were falling fast in the Scottish
gardens and fields, the long days of summer had visibly
contracted themselves and signs of the coming winter
were manifest on every hand, when on an October evening
in 1839 a large assemblage met in the Trades Hall,
Glasgow. There were merchants and professional men
and not a few of the sinewy sons of toil. The buildmg
was brilliantly lighted, and dinner tables groaned under
the good things which usually characterise a Scotch
repast. The occasion was a festive one, and yet an
undercurrent of sadness might have been seen underlying
the efforts put forth by many of those present to be gay.
They were bidding good-bye to dear old Scotland. Every
inch of their native land was dear to them. They loved
its heath-clad mountains and its smiling valleys, its lakes
and its woodlands, its villages and its towns, its castles
and its cabins. There was no land in the world, in their
estimation, so beautiful as their native land, no religion so
Scriptural as the Presbyterian religion, and no people so
free, so enhghtened, so homely, and so dear unto them, as
the Scottish people — the relations, friends and countrymen
among whom they had been brought up. Our guests,
however, had fallen on adverse times. Trade was much
depressed. Poverty and destitution were rife. In Paisley
18 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
and Glasgow and many other places one-fourth of the
population was said to be unemployed. Men of influence
maintained that the Old Country was overcrowded, and
that the only remedy was for the able-bodied unemployed
to emigrate to new and unoccupied lands, where they
should have elbow room. The New Zealand Company
pointed to this Colony as a promising field, and offered
facilities for an organised settlement here. Accordingly
a large nvimber of Scotchmen, proverbially cautious as they
are about venturing on untried schemes or voyaging to
distant and unknown lands, resolved thus early to seek in
New Zealand for a new home.
Hence this meeting in the Trades Hall. It was
designed to be a send off for the emigrants and at the
same time to celebrate the inauguration of a new
era in the history of British colonisation. After dinner
the usual speeches. There were two distinguished
speakers on that occasion, Rev. Norman Macleod (after-
wards Rev. Dr. Norman Macleod), then minister of
Loudoun, the famous orator and divine; and Mr. Archibald
Alison (afterwards Sir A. Alison), the historian of Europe,
and at that time Sheriff of Lanarkshire. Both entered
heartily into all schemes which had for their object the
alleviation of distress among the unemployed and poor,
but each treated the subject of emigration this evening
from his own standpoint.
Mr. Macleod, in wishing success to the expedition,
stated that he was particularly happy to think that the
Church of their fathers was providing for their spiritual
interests by sending out with them the Rev. John
Macfarlane, who had been successfully labouring for
three years as minister of Martyrs Church, Paisley,
and who was now to be the first Presbyterian minister
THE VOYAGE. 19
going out to provide for the spiritual wants of the New
Zealand settlei's ; thought, from all he knew, that they
were specially fortunate in securing the services of Mr.
Macfarlane ; had no doubt, as he spoke Gaelic, the
original language of Paradise, he would have no difficulty
anywhere in making himself understood ; believed that
merchants, even on the low ground of order, wealth, and
expediency, would join with him in rejoicing over the
establishment of religious ordinances among the Colonists
of Maoriland ; and felt certain the day would come when
the Church of Scotland should have in New Zealand
" more churches than she could number in the mother
land."
The maternal solicitude of the Scottish Church,
referred to by Mr. Macleod, was greatly enhanced by her
agreeing to pay her first minister for New Zealand £900
in advance, or at the rate of £300 per year for three years.
He might have said, too, not only that Mr. Macfarlane
was the first Presbyterian minister but the first minister of
any Church who had come out expressly to minister to
New Zealand settlers.
The speech of Mr. Alison, which was afterwards
published by the New Zealand Company in the interests
of emigration, was a long and brilliant one. It touched
also on the moral, but dealt chiefly with the social and
commercial aspects of the expedition. The renowned
historian pourtrayed in striking language the advantages
the Mother Country should reap by fostering the magnifi-
cent empire that was being built ap abroad ; recommended,
if necessary, the employment of the British Navy for
the transport of emigrants across the seas to British
possessions ; drew a bright picture of the Anglo-Saxon
race swaying the sceptre of the world, " humanising not
20 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
destroying as they advance ; " thought he saw ah-eady a
fulfihuGut of the prophecy, " God shall increase Japhet,
and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem, and Canaan shall
be his servant," not his slave ; and wound up an eloquent
and most effective speech by quoting approvingly words of
the Poet Laureate, that read like a prophecy and show at
the same time not a little ignorance of these Islands : —
Come bright improvement, in the car of time,
And rule the spacious world from clime to clime ;
Thy handmaid, Art, shall every wild explore
Trace every wave and culture every shore ;
On Zealand's hills, where tigers steal along.
And the dread Indian chants a dismal song ;
Where human fiends on midnight errands walk.
And bathe in brains the murderous tomahawk ;
There shall the flocks on thymy pastures stray,
And shepherds dance at summer's opening day ;
Each wandering genius of the lonely gleu
Shall start to view — the glittering haunts of mrn ;
And silence mark, on woodland heights around
The village curfew as it tolls profound.
The departure of the " Bengal Merchant " was viewed
in Scotland as an historic occasion. Shortly before she
weighed anchor in the Clyde on the 31st October, 1839,
under the auspices of the New Zealand Company, the
Lord Provost of Glasgow with a large party went on
board, and, addressing the 150 emigrants en route for New
Zealand, told them that " they were about to lay the
foundation of a Colony which in time might become a
great nation, a second Britain."
During the voyage, which was prosperous, there was
one marriage, one baptism, one birth, and one death, so
that striking events were evenly distributed. Rev. Mr.
Macfarlane's ministrations to the Colonists began on board
ship. Every Sabbath day the passengers and crew
THE PASSENGERS. 21
assembled for worship conducted by him. After his
first service he distributed copies of a pastoral address
prepared by the Presbytery of Paisley to which he
belonged, that concluded thus : —
" And now, dear countrymtn, we sympathise with you in your
feelings, which are no doubt tender, in leaving the land of your
fathers, it may be for ever, and are persuaded that as Scotchmen
you are not likely soon to forget your last view of its rocky shores as
these fade and disappear in the distant horizon. Other lands, rich
and sunny though they be, will, to those who have reached maturity,
still want the tender associations of early life, and the hallowed
recollections of a Scottish Sabbath with its simple but effective
accompaniments You will not forget that you also are
now to be enrolled among her departed children, and that she expects
you will be distinguished among the natives of other lands, for your
high moral bearing, your honest and persevering industry, and your
habitual reverence for God and the things of God."
We can fancy the tears that would glisten in the eyes
of many as they read on the deck of the emigrant ship this
touching appeal.
Of the 150 persons on board only 19 were cabin
passengers. Their names alone have been recorded, and
are as follow : —
Alexander Marjoribanks (the historian of the voyage). Dr. Logan
(the naturalist), and Messrs. Hay, Strang, and Dorsey, each with
his wife ; Dr. Graham Tod and Mr. Carruth, each with a brother ;
Rev. John Macfarlanc, Messrs. Anderson, Buchanan, Wallace, and
Yule, each unaccompanied by wife or relative.
The great majority went intermediate or steerage, and
were prepared to work with ungloved hands in the far off
land of their destination, felling bush, building houses,
erecting fences, and roughing it as circumstances required.
Being specially selected for the new Colony, they were
mostly young and vigorous. They needed strong arms
and brave hearts.
22 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
A few European settlers had preceded them, but for
the most part they were loose and lawless adventurers,
convicts and criminals, runaway sailors and the reckless
crews of whalers, all of whom the missionaries dreaded to
see, and in whose footsteps ordinary men would not
care to tread. No settled government of any kind
existed. Might was the only right. Petitions came from
indignant missionaries among the Maoris, and memorials
were laid before the British Government by London
merchants, both complaining of the haphazard settlement
of Englishmen on the New Zealand coast, and the strife
and contention engendered thereby. The former desired
to see their Gospel work among the Natives prosper
unchecked by the atrocities of white men ; the latter to see
trade with the Islands flourish, and land tenure made
secure. Having Canada and Australia as an outlet for
surplus population, the British Government was hesitating
as to its line of policy, and little attention was as yet
given to the establishment of order in New Zealand.
Then what about the Maoris ? Had the new settlers
nothing to fear from them ? Harrowing stories were in
circulation as to the treachery, ferocity, and cannibalism of
the Natives of New Zealand. In 1772 Marion Du Fresno
and fifteen of his crew were killed and eaten in the Bay of
Islands. In 1809 the crew of the " Boyd " was enticed on
shore for spars in Whangaroa Harbour, and met a similar
fate, the vessel being set fire to and burned down to the
water's edge. In 1816 the American brig "Agnes" and
her crew fell victims to the savagery of the aborigines in
Poverty Bay. They heard of all this, and may have
imagined more, yet they were not dismayed. They felt
the call of duty, and pushed on. The New Zealand
Company's arrangements were not then so perfect as they
A RED-LETTEE YEAR. 23
were subsequently in the case of the Nelson and Otago
settlements. Like Abraham called out of God, they
scarcely knew whither they went ; yet they went and faced
dangers like men. Such was Christian courage " in the
brave days of old."
After a long and tedious voyage of 113 days the
passengers of the " Bengal Merchant " touched the first
New Zealand land at D'Urville Island, lying west of Cook's
Strait, on 10th of February, 1840.
1840 is a distinguished year in the annals of New
Zealand. On May 21st of that year Lieutenant-Governor
Hobson, taking his instructions from New South Wales,
proclaimed at Kororareka (now Russell) the Sovereignty of
the Queen, over the North Island by reason of the Treaty
of Waitangi, and over the South Island by virtue of
discovery. Six months after this, or on November 16th,
New Zealand was created by the British Parliament a
separate Colony.
Different people in different ways will fix the year
1840 in their minds. Loyalists will think of it as the year
in which Queen Victoria married Prince Albert of Saxe-
Coburg and Gotha, who in the practice of every domestic
virtue and in the discharge of every public duty has
left behind him a fragrant memory among the British
people : the bellicose will remember it as the year when
the Prussians adopted the needle gun, which made such
short work of their enemies ; and as the year when the
war broke out in China which left us in possession of
Hong Kong, increasing in importance every day : travellers
will call it to mind as the year in which Livingstone began
in Africa those missionary journeys and labours that have
made his name famous throughout the civilised world,
24 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
in which the penny postage system was established in
England, and in which Thomas Waghorn triumphantly
pointed a sceptical public to a new overland route to India
via Egypt and the Red Sea : Scotchmen will associate it
with the gathering storm that rent the Church of Scotland
in twain at the time of the Disruption : and Irishmen will
retain it in their recollection as the year when the union of
the Synod of Ulster with the Secession Synod was
consummated. It is worthy of note that 1890 saw the
Jubilee of the Colony of New Zealand, the Jubilee of the
New Zealand Presbyierian Church, and the Jubilee of the
Irish Presbyterian Church. The origin of Presbyterian ism,
therefore, in New Zealand is in keeping with its historic
character. It gained a footing at the foundation of the
Colony, and has grown up with the country's national life.
The passengers and crew of the " Bengal Merchant "
were all glad to see land, though it was to them a com-
paratively unknown land, and was possessed of not a few
dangers. What matter if,
The breaking waves dashed high
On a stern and rock-bound coast ;
And the woods against a stormy sky,
Their giant branches toss'd.
Four months' diet without fresh meat or vegetables,
four months' tossing on angry billows, and four months'
monotony of sea life in the first half of this century were
enough to make any man welcome the wildest and most
inhospitable shore. We are not surprised to hear that one
of the earliest ministers after a long and perilous voyage
took for the text of his first sermon on ter7-a Jinna, " And
there shall be no more sea."
The sentiment of the " Bengal " passengers on this
occasion is well echoed in one of the versos of a poem
written on board, which gained the prize offered by Mr.
Macfarlane : —
TERBA FIEMA AT LAST. 25
And when the cry of " Land " was heard at last,
How eager all that land were to explore ;
Though some shed tears on scenes forever past,
Far, far away on Caledonia's shore.
We scarcely give now-a-days sufficient credit to the
courage and bravery and self-sacrificing spirit of New
Zealand's hardy pioneers of settlement and civilisation.
Gum-digging in those days held out no inducement. The
little that the Natives gathered was sold to settlers for the
small sum of £5 per ton, and even of these transactions
not much was known to the outside world. The rush for
gold did not take place until many years afterwards.
Even at this moment there are many in the Homeland
who, though you assured them that they should make a
fortune, would not take a voyage to the Antipodes. The
bare suggestion would construe up thoughts of mal-de-mer,
collisions, icebergs, shipwrecks, earthquakes, volcanic
eruptions, cannibals, katipo spiders, and I don't know
what not.
Failing to find any of the New Zealand Land Com-
pany's officers at D'Urville to give directions, they sailed
up the Harbour of Port Nicholson, and, after some
searching, found the land which the agents of the
Company, sent out a short time before had hastily
purchased and roughly mapped out as the site of the
new settlement. It was on a low-lying plain at the mouth
of the Hutt River, where the town of Petone now stands.
To this spot also converged about the same time with
their hving freight, the " Cuba," the " Aurora," the
" Oriental," and the " Adelaide," all of which sailed
from Gravesend. How, it was asked then, could passen-
gers and cargo be landed at " the Head of the Bay," as it
was called ? The hills in that quarter were steep and
26 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
covered with bush down to the water's edge, and seemed
a fit abode only for wild pigs, of which there were
very many roaming at will through its dense and wild
fastnesses. Scattered through it also in little clearings
were four Maori pas, strongly fortified with stockades and
all the science of defence for which the Natives in early
times were distinguished. This place, said the leaders of
the first settlement, is entirely unsuited for our purpose,
let us on this inviting plain to the right at the mouth of
this beautiful river found a great city that will preserve the
traditions and eclipse the glory of the Homeland, and call
it Britannia. Accordingly the passengers of the " Bengal
Merchant " landed here, and pitched their tents on the
shore. In these canvas houses they lived for many a day.
The first Sabbath service conducted by the Rev. Mr.
Macfarlane in New Zealand was held here in the open air
on the beach the Sunday after the arrival of the Scotch
settlers. The hymn with which it began is worthy of
record. It was Dean Stanley's favourite. It comforted
Dr. Livingstone in all his wanderings, and to its music his
remains were laid in Westminster Abbey. The passengers
on board the " Philip Laing " seven years afterwards sang
it as, bound for Port Chalmers, they bade good-bye at
Greenock to their friends and fatherland. Will Doddridge's
grand old hymn ever be forgotten ? What dwellers in
foreign lands are not stirred by it ? All hearts were
now moved by the strains of this well-known Scottish
paraphrase ; —
" O God of Bethel, by whose hand
Thy people still are fed,
Who through this weary wilderness
Hast all our fathers led.
" Through each perplexing path of life
Our wandering footsteps guide ;
Give us each day our daily bread,
And raiment fit provide.
FIRST SERVICE IN MAORI LAND. 27
" Such blessings from Thy gracious hand
Our humble prayers implore ;
And Thou shalt be our chosen God
And portion evermore."
It was a good beginning for a British Colony ; a
splendid foundation for a great nation. The right keynote
was struck that day in New Zealand, when the words of
this hymn rang through the woods of Petone. The
experience of fifty-eight years has taught us that the safety
and prosperity of a people and country depend on the
realisation of its dying echo ; " and portion evermore."
Mr, Macfarlane's congregation then and for years
afterwards was composed of men and women belonging to
various denominations. He had the privilege and prestige
during that primeval period of being the settlers' only
minister. The Presbyterian Church is sometimes credited
with being slow on entering upon a new field of labour.
Other Churches before she moves have got a good start.
It requires time, as a rule, to get great guns into position,
and effective machinery into operation. It was not so on
this occasion ; she was first in evidence at Wellington. Is
this prophetic of Avhat the end shall be in New Zealand ?
It lies with the Presbyterian Church herself to determine
that. Mr. Macfarlane's earliest services were held in Mr.
Bethune's store on the banks of the Hutt River.
Occasionally he officiated in Colonel "Wakefield's house,
where many of the officials of the Company and of the
leading men of the emigrant ships assembled for worship.
It was a trying time for the settlers. They had, one and
all, many difficulties to contend with, and needed much
the consolations of religion.
The first difficulty was to procure habitable dwellings.
Many had brought with them serviceable tents. Some
28 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
had thoughtfully provided themselves with little wooden
houses, which they set up triumphantly on the beach. A
large number found residences, that for warmth at least
were not to be despised, by interlacing toi-toi with karewa
and daubing the network over with soft clay. At this
work the Natives were adepts, and rendered good service
when employed, as they often were. Over this promiscuous
collection of domiciles floated gloriously the New Zealand
flag.
Mr. Marjoribanks tells us that he was a little more
fortunate than his fellow passengers on arrival, having
found shelter with a Scotchman who, hearing of the
expected arrivals from home, had come over from Sydney,
and among numerous other trades, set up as butcher, and
sold pork. He relates how the hut which served for both
shop and residence had neither door nor window, and how
the proprietor used to arouse him at night, blazing away
with his gun at the native dogs attracted by the savoury
meat, but that so far as he knew, none of them were ever
hit. These white and black dogs of the aborigines, with
small muzzles, sharp ears, and a peculiar whining cry,
have since died out before the European species. From
all accounts it would appear that if at night the
native dogs were at times troublesome, the mosquitoes
were ten times more so. Owing, perhaps, to the pristine
swamps and forests, the country then literally swarmed
with these little pests. Being always in evidence, they
made sleep difficult. More serious mishaps occurred both
by sea and land. A number of the most energetic settlers
were accidentally drowned. A fire suddenly burnt to ashes
a whole row of the toi-toi huts, and afforded no small
amusement to their dark-skinned neighbours, who danced
round the conflagration in high glee.
EARLY TRIALS. 29
One night an earthquake created great consternation
by leading the Colonists to believe that the Maoris had
come to shake down their frail habitations, many rushing
out with arms in their hands. The Natives, of whom
there were 300 in a pa close by, well provided with guns
and ammunition, and many more not far off, were a
constant source of fear. A European lad found in a
potato plot helping himself without leave was murdered
by them. Some of the Natives themselves were found
slain in the bush. Many asked, "Was it safe to walk
alone in this dense forest of trees and underwood, that
seemed to be everywhere, covering the ground down to the
banks of the river and the mai'gins of the sea?" Already
there were grumblings low and deep among the Maoris
about not being sufficiently remunerated for their land.
Complaint was afterwards made by Rauperaha, of Nelson,
that Warepori, the fighting chief of Port Nicholson, might
have been seen "smoking his pipe and wearing his blankets
alone," Though the Natives fond of trading brought
their baskets of fish and potatoes and their pigs for sale,
and offered their services as labourers, most of the new
comers had a strong feeling that it was better to watch
them than trust them. A flour famine in Sydney did not
improve the tempers or add to the contentment of the
immigrants. Many wished themselves safely back in their
" ain countrie." The cHmax was reached when the Hutt
river overflowed its banks, and inundated all the low lying
country adjoining. Few then failed to appreciate the
sentiment of the immigrant who, seated on the top of a
large case surrounded with water, sang to the accompani-
ment of his accordion,
" Home sweet home, there's no place like home."
Many all along had observed the low-lying nature of
the ground at Petone Beach, and noticed how the fierce
30 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
south-eastern gales eudangerGcl the shipping lying ofif the
shore, and stoutly maintained that it was not a suitable
site on which to build a great city. Colonel Wakefield for a
time turned a deaf ear to their representations, till Dr.
Evans, a distinguished lawyer, arrived and pleaded their
cause, and the Hutt River, with a surging devastating
flood, added the weight of its powerful influence. Then
the oppositionists had an easy victory.
With one consent the foundation of what proved to
be the metropolis of New Zealand was laid at the head of
the Bay by the running up of houses of wattle and daub.
To this cluster of huts the Colonists gave the dignified
name of Wellington, not merely because the wearer of
that historic title was Great Britain's most illustrious hero,
but because he gave life to the principle of colonisation by
advocating the South Australian Bill in the Home
Parliament. Some time afterwards all bade good-bye to
the Hutt Valley without a tear, a few Scotchmen celebrat-
ing the event by meeting at Glenlyon farm, and planting,
as evidences of their occupation, the first Scotch burr
thistle introduced into New Zealand. At the beginning
of the settlement the European population of Port Nicholson
was somewhat more numerous than that of the Natives
in the same district, the former being 1275, and the latter
840. There were, however, sufficient armed and warlike
aborigines round about to overwhelm and blot out the
settlement at any time, if they chose to do so.
It is said that a hard beginning is a good beginning.
It is good for the Church, good for the State, and good for
the individual.
"Sweet are the uses of adversity
Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous,
Wears y<t a precious jewel in its head :
And this our life, exempt from public haunt,
Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,
Sermons in stones, and good in everything."
A NEW ZEALAND DISRUPTION. 31
CHAPTER III.
IN THE BEGINNING AT WELLINGTON.
A New Zealand Disruption— An Historic Letter of Rev. Mr.
Macfarlane's — Arrival of Rev. James Duncan — A Split in the
Presbyterian Camp— The Public Cemetery Appropriated — An
Attempt to Set Up an Anglican Establishment — A Good-bye to
Mr. Macfarlane — A Statistical Table.
The Rev. John Macfarlane lodged in Woolcombe Street
with Mr. Strang, who till his death was a staunch friend
of St. Andrew's Church, and to
whose memory a mural tablet has
been erected in the present edifice.
With the minister of Welling-
ton in lodging, and the people of
Wellington residing in houses of
toi-toi and daub, or dwellings not
far removed in their primitive
simplicity, what could the Church
hope for in the way of a house of
worship ? It was not to be expected that she should be
put into immediate possession of an ecclesiastical structure
that would satisfy the aspirations of a Michael Augelo,
or rival the Glasgow Cathedral and the Abbey Parish
Church of Paisley left behind. Congregational worship
began in New Zealand as it began with the first
Christians in Jerusalem nearly two thousand years ago.
There was " the church in the house " until better pro-
vision was forthcoming. Then there was an advance.
MR. STRANG.
32 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
For some time Mr. IMacfarlane preached in what was
known as Hunter's premises to the first congregation of
settlers formed in the Colony. The next step was to rent
the Exchange, a wooden building still standing in Custom
House Street. Here he preached twice every Sabbath
day, and, when his strength permitted, had a service
in the afternoon for the benefit of the Highland emigrants,
praying, reading, and preaching in the tongue they
dearly loved to hear. It was not a large edifice, and
yet it was seldom filled. Some spent their Sundays at home.
Some took liberties with the Sabbath Day that would have
shocked their countrymen in the Homeland; nay, that should,
if done by others there, have made themselves stand aghast.
It was no very uncommon thing during the service to hear
the clank of the anvil in the distance, or the ring of the car-
penter's hammer, or the sharp crack of the sportsman's
fowling piece bringing down a parrot or a pigeon from a
native tree, or the loud clatter of horses' feet as they
galloped swiftly past. Being the only resident minister, he
had a great many duties outside the pulpit to discharge,
visiting the sick, officiating at funerals, and baptising and
marrying all and sundry. For years he had on an average
a marriage every fortnight, and a baptism every week.
To the cause of education, also, he gave a helping hand.
He took a deep interest in the Mechanics' Institute, and
moved the adoption of its first report. In doing so he was
able to speak of the pleasure he had in visiting the day
school held in the same place. Many of his fiock were
equally zealous in the same cause, Mr. W. Lyon giving an
occasional lecture, and others contributing according to
their ability. He had a very wide and promiscuous pas-
torate. There were Englishmen, Scotchmen, Irishmen,
Americans, French, Germans, Africans, and men of other
nations laying claim to his ministrations. Even the
AN HISTORIC LETTER. 33
Natives came in for a share of his attention. It was
unreasonable to expect such a charge as this to hold
together for long. The time had come for its breaking up.
In August, 1842, Bishop Selwyn paid his first visit to
Wellington. He was very warmly received, especially by
the members of his own communion. The latter presented
him with a flattering address, which showed clearly the
High Church proclivities of the Anglican party in Welling-
ton. It was moved by Dr. Evans, a lawyer, seconded by
Mr. St. Hill, a magistrate, adopted at a public meeting
called together for that purpose, and contained the follow-
ing paragraph : —
We need scarcely assure your Lordship that, having been left
so long without regular and authorised administration of the services
and sacraments of the Church, we have been enabled to judge of the
vanity of resting upon the spontaneous impulses of voluntary zeal
for a distribution of the bread of life, and we rejoice, therefore, in the
prospect of an efficient and permanent establishment of religion in
these Islands.
If this tall talk meant anything it meant that it is vain
to hope for a distribution of the bread of life or expect
religion efficiently and permanently established without the
presence of a bishop. No comment from us, however, is
needed. We are able to produce Mr. Macfarlane's own
refutation. To the New Zealand Colonist of August 23rd,
1842, he wrote a letter, which is a historic one. It reveals
such ability and boldness on the part of the first settled
minister of New Zealand, and the subject itself is so im-
portant, that no apology is needed for re-producing it : —
Sib,—
No one can more cordially welcome Dr. Selwyn and his coadjutors
than I do. In some of the sentiments, however, contained in these
addresses I cannot concur, as I feel that they reflect upon the Church
of Scotland and myself as her only clerical representative here. And
I am happy to think that in regard to one of them the Bishop himself
34 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
avowed "temperately but decidedly" his dissent from the latitu-
dinarian principles which it embodied. In the address moved by
Mr. St. Hill, it is said to be that of " the members of the Established
Church of the New Zealand first and principal settlement " (meaning
thereby, 1 presume, the Church of England). This, however, is a
mistake, for, thanks to the Bishop of Exeter, it has been decided by
all the judges of England that the Church of Scotland is equally
established with that of England, and in all the Colonies of the
British Crown possessing the same rights, privileges, and immunities.
In the second paragraph of the address I find the following state-
ment : — " Having for so protracted a period been deprived of the
spiritual guidance of a resident minister." That this is an error,
whether intentionally or not, is very evident, as, with the exception
of a necessary visit to Nelson, I have been permanently resident at
Port Nicholson, preaching, I trust faithfully, the same doctrines
which Dr. Selwyn will now do. As a proof that, as far as principle
pennitted, I have not limited my ministrations to any class or
denomination of people, I may mention (and it may perhaps form a
useful item in the future statistics of a new Colony like this), that in
looking over the registry of the Scotch Church, I have married 74
couples, of whom no fewer than 48 were English, only 13 Scotch,
2 Irish, 6 Natives, 1 African, 1 German, 1 Van Dieman's Land,
1 American, and 1 French. I have also baptised 114 children, of
whom 53 were the infants of English parents, 50 Scotch, 4 Irish,
5 Natives, 1 German, and 1 American ; all the parents conforming
to the practice of the Church of Scotland, in the absence of any
minister of their own denomination, while at the same time they
professed her doctrines. I think with such facts as these — and
more might be adduced — Dr. Evans in his address might have spared
the complaint of the " painful circumstances of religious destitution
under which the Colonists have so long laboured," as well as the
paragraph which immediately followed: — " We need scarcely assure
your lordship that, having been left so long without regular and
authorised administration of the services and sacraments of the
Church." If these statements are correct, one thing at least is
certain : that the Church of England, not the Church of Scotland,
is to be blamed ; the latter of which, so soon as a body of her people
resolved upon emigrating to New Zealand, immediately provided
them with a clergyman at her own expense, without a single
farthing's aid from either the Government, the New Zealand
AN HISTORIC LETTER. 35
Company, or the Colonists. Perhaps, however, Dr. Evans, imitating
the example of some Oxonians, means that a clergyman of the
Church of Scotland is not authorised to administer the services and
sacraments of the Cliurch. In another paragraph I find the
following passage :-" It is with pride we advert to having been the
foremost in the van of colonization combined with Christianisation
in these Islands." This is surely a strange blunder on the part of the
members of the Church of England in this settlement. They surely
cannot have forgotten the devoted exertions of the Wesleyan and
Church of England missionaries for many years past and at the
same time that, until the last few days, with the exception of Mr.
Churton's services during some months, the Christianisation of this
part of the Islands has been left entirely to the exertions of the
Wesleyan missionaries and the Scotch minister. As to the expression
"authorised head" and "apostolic authority," I need scarcely
advert, for the Church of Scotland admits of no head but Christ,
and attaches but very little importance to the expression " apostolic
authority," in the exclusive sense in which it is used, considering
the polluted channel through which it has been demised.
I am glad, however, there are other sentiments in which I must
heartily concur. First, I feel a most earnest desire for the usefulness
and happiness of the Bishop. I most heartily concur in the
admission that "the spontaneous impulses of voluntary zeal" are
ineffectual in this Colony. And, last of all, I rejoice in the assurance
given to Dr. Selwyn that it will afford the settlers unfeigned pleasure
to aid in the building and endowment of churches and schools,
though I must say that in my own experience I have found no small
reluctance and tardiness to promote such objects. As I have no wish
for controversy, but merely to prevent any misapprehension that
might arise by such statements being brought before the Church of
Scotland, I will feel obliged to you to insert these few remarks.
I am,
John Macfablane,
Wellington, First Minister of the Scotch Church N Z
August 19th, 1842.
Trust no party, Church, or faction.
Trust no leaders in the fight ;
But in every word and action.
Trust in God and do the right.
36 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
This hiving oflf, accompanied with such vicious stinging,
set the Presbyterians of Wellington on their mettle. They
saw that henceforth the warfare must be waged on strictly
denominational lines. It was now every Church fighting
to its own hand. Accordingly at a Presbyterian assem-
blage held in March, 1843, which The N.Z. Gazette of
that time designated " a numerous and highly respectable
meeting of the Committee and members of the Scotch
Presbyterian Church," a draft of the Constitution of the
first Presbyterian Chuvch in Wellington was unanimously
approved of, and subscriptions for the building of a church,
to the amount of nearly £400, announced.
Mr. Macfarlane's troubles, however, were not at an end.
He had yet to face the more serious disaster of dissension
in the Presbyterian camp itself.
" Another sword hath laid him low,
Another's and another's ;
And every hand that dealt the blow,
Ah, me, it was a brother's !"
The occasion, though not the cause, of the second
"blow" dealt out to him was the coming of the Rev.
James Duncan.
The Kev. James Duncan, recently minister in charge
of Foxton, and still living at that place, is one of the
earliest and most-devoted sons of the Presbyterian Church.
As a willing supply of her early vacant charges, as an
organiser of new congregations, and as a settled minister,
he has rendered her long and efficient service. He was the
first Presbyterian minister to hold services at Wanganui,
Turakina, Foxton, Parawanui, and North Palmerston.
Few men have rocked the cradle of the Church in so many
places as he. A prominent place in our records is well
deserved by him.
ARRIVAL OF REV, JAMES DUNCAN, 37
Mr. Duncan was sent out by the Reformed Presby-
terian Church as a missionary to the Manawatu Maoris,
receiving outfit, passage money, and £100 per year. He
arrived at Wellington on April 4th, 1843. He thought it
wise to make that place his headquarters until he had
gained a moderate grasp of the Native tongue. He paid
frequent visits during this period to the pas at Petone and
elsewhere, and had Maoris coming almost every day, read-
ing, writing, and conversing. He found that when one
interested himself in their welfare, and made sacrifices for
their good, their prejudices gave way, and their willingness
to receive instruction became manifest.
Mr, Duncan had only been a few weeks in Wellington
when he received a pressing invitation to minister to a
section of Presbyterians morally and intellectually influen-
tial. They represented that they had conscientious scruples
about attending any existent place of worship, but would
gladly wait on his ministrations, and that there were many
others who had become careless as to the means of grace,
and might be reclaimed. Mr, Duncan consented, and
found it to be so. He began with a regular congregation
of fifty persons, and the attendance and interest gradually
increased. In his auditory he had English Dissenters and
Scotch Dissenters, and members of the National Church of
Scotland, To this congregation he preached for fifteen
months, until, acting jon instructions from Home, he took
his departure for the Manawatu Maori missionary field.
Cast down but not destroyed, Mr. Macfarlane and his
friends maintained services in the Exchange, still prosecut-
ing the work of church building. Perseverance had its
reward. The first New Zealand church built by the
settlers was opened by him, assisted by Mr. Duncan, on
January 7th, 1844.
38 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Another cause of annoyance to IMr. Macfarlane and
other ministers was the appropriation of the public
cemetery.
A plot of eighteen acres had been laid off for a public
cemetery by the Surveyor General of the New Zealand
Company, and for years had been utilised by all classes and
conditions of men. In May of 1843, however, a Presby-
terian who wanted burial for his child to his surprise found
a fence erected, and a locked gate. On applying to Rev.
Mr. Cole, the Anglican clergyman, he was told by him that
Dissenters would be permitted to bury there until the
Bishop should pay a visit and make other arrangements,
when they should be excluded unless they submitted to
have the services performed by the Church of England
clergy, and paid them their fees. Hearing this, Mr. Mac-
farlane wrote Mr. Cole, remonstrating in strong but
dignified language, and Mr. Cole apologised. Notwith-
standing, when the Bishop came on the scene, Mr. Mac-
farlane received notice from Major Richmond to select a
suitable site for a burying place for his congregation. A
deputation was then organised, which consisted of Mr.
Macfarlane, Mr. Woodward (Congregational minister), and
others, who urged that wives naturally wished to slumber
beside their husbands, and children beside their parents,
and sisters beside their brothers, and vice versa. Who shall
blame them if they spoke plainly on this subject ? Who
shall find fault if one of the sentiments of Halleck's well-
known call to arms suggested itself to their outraged
feelings ? : —
" Strike for your altars and your fires,
Strike for the green graves of your sires,
God, and your native land."
In spite, however, of their combined remonstrance no
immediate step to remove the grievance complained of was
THE PUBLIC CEMETERY APPROPRIATED. 39
taken, and the Presbyterians were for some time without a
place in which to bury their dead. Before the dispute
came to an end there was an amusing law case over it.
Mr. Woodward had threatened that if he found the
cemetery gate locked he would break it open. When the
case came on the latter testified that he had never found it
locked, while others swore that they had often seen it
locked. The caretaker furnished the explanation, when
he stated in his evidence that he always watched, and when
he saw Mr. Woodward coming he unlocked the gate. The
case that time went against the exclusivists.
It was about this time that an attempt was made to
set up an ecclesiastical establishment in New Zealand.
On June 1st, 1844, His Excellency, when the Appro-
priation Bill came on for discussion, moved that a sum
of £200 be granted from Colonial revenue in aid of
the Lord Bishop's salary. It appears that Bishop Selwyn's
income originally was £1200, £600 coming from the
Imperial Government and £600 from the Church Missionary
Society. Of this sum he appropriated only £500 to himself,
and devoted the rest to religious and charitable objects in
connection with the Anglican Church. By-and-bye the
Imperial Government withdrew its grant, and the Bishop
thought that the burden laid down should be assumed by
the Colonial Government, and vainly made several appeals
to it with that object in view. The Governor now proposed
to help him out of the public purse. The proposition was
met with strenuous opposition. A petition was sent in by
the Presbyterians of Auckland protesting against it. Both
they and their friends at Wellington had some able advocates
in the Legislative Council. Dr. Martin, who was Editor of
The Southern Cross, and who throw open his columns for tlie
ventilation of every legitimate grievance, a liberal-minded
40 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
but staunch Presbyterian, was a member of the Council.
So was Mr. W. Brown, another Presbyterian, and so was
Mr. Clifford, a Roman Catholic. Misery, it is said, acquaints
a man with strange bedfellows. All three spoke strongly
against this motion. In view of the opposition raised,
His Excellency intimated that there would be no
objection later on to aid other denominations as well. This
did not lessen in the smallest degree their resistance to the
proposal. They had a knowledge of human nature, and
put no confidence in fair speeches. They knew how —
"Alas ! we make
A ladder of our thoughts where angels step.
But sleep ourselves at the foot."
There was the fact staring them in the face that a vote of
money had been already passed in connection with this Bill
for "an ecclesiastical establishment" in spite of the protests
of the non-official members. Besides, they strongly
objected to indiscriminate endowment. Dr. Martin's
arguments were well arranged and exceedingly cogent. He
considered it contrary to the spirit of true religion that it
should be placed in the position of requiring or demanding,
aid from, it might be, heretics and infidels. He detailed
the system pursued in New South Wales and Van Diemen's
Land of indiscriminately assisting all sects. He preferred
the plan at Home of supporting one Church to that
infamous system which declared that all sects were
alike. It was not, he thought, right to tax a man to pay
towards a religion which in his conscience he believed to
be false. If it were a matter of charity, then the Roman
Catholic priest, with his 15/- per week, ought to receive the
first consideration. He would be sorry to see any system
of religious bigotry established in this country. Contrary
to expectation, some of the official members voted with the
A GOOD-BYE TO MR. MACFARLANE. 41
three non-oflScial ; the proposal was rejected, and the friends
of civil and religious liberty breathed freely.
"Tender-hearted strike a nettle
It will sting you for your pains ;
Grasp it like a man of mettle
And it soft as silk remains."
We shall see how at a subsequent period the Auckland
Presbyterians sent in to the Council a strongly- worded
petition, signed by 200 persons, against the exclusiveness
of "The Marriage Bill," and a little afterwards protested
on the same grounds against " The Education Bill " of
1847, and how all Auckland, outside of one denomination,
was on the verge of a whirlpool of excitement. This is no
new experience of the Presbyterian Church. In all lands
she has had to fight the battle of freedom with the con-
sciousness that she was defending the privileges and
vindicating the rights of the human race.
The first minister of the Colonists was entertained at
dinner in Barrett's Hotel on September 22nd, 1844, it being
the occasion of his leaving on a trip to the Old Country.
A large number of the leading men of Wellington came
together. There were amongst many others, E. S. Halswell,
Esq., Judge of the County Court ; R. D. Hanson, Esq.,
J.P., Crown Solicitor ; R. Hart, Esq., Solicitor ; Dr. Kelly,
of the " Bella Marina," in which he was about to sail ; and
Kenneth Bethune, Esq., Chairman. Even Dr. Evans, who
framed and moved the address to Bishop Selwyn which had
given such pain to Mr. Macfarlane, was present, and gave
the sentiment of the Church of Scotland. It was a happy
meeting. The chairman complimented the guest of the
evening on his not having unduly obtruded his own doctrines
on the members of other Churches to whom he ministered,
and on "the Christian charity and forgiveness" he had
42 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
manifested during the trials through which he had passed,
believed these graces were now generally reciprocated, and
wished him ban voyage and a safe return.
Mr. Macfarlane, who appeared to be labouring under
the eftects of a late indisposition, said in reply that be was
about to leave them for the space of about eighteen months,
hoping to return at the end of that period, and that he
would do bis utmost at Home to promote the temporal and
spiritual interests of the Colony, in which he took a lively
interest.
The Attorney- General regretted that "an attempt bad
been made in the Council to introduce the principle of a
dominant Church," and he "thanked those members
through whose agency it had been defeated." He " did
not believe," he said, "in giving to the members of any
one Church an exclusive or even excessive right to support
from the State."
Mr. Macfarlane left by the "Bella Marina" in October,
1844, and did not return to New Zealand. He remained
in the Old Country, and settled down as parish minister of
Lochgilphead, in Argyllshire. Not a few left behind in
Wellington were inclined to say of their first New Zealand
minister :
"Fare thee well, and if for ever
Still for ever fare thee well ;
E'en though unforgiving, never
'Gainst thee shall my heart rebel."
A STATISTICAL TABLE.
The following table will show the ostensible strength of the various
denominations in Wellington about this time, i.e., 1845, when owing
to the Maori disturbance and a disagreement between the Home
Government and the N.Z. Company, the tide of emigration for a time
was checked : —
A STATISTICAL TABLE.
43
Denomination.
Mem-
bers.
Chur-
ches.
To
Seat
Atten-
dance.
Clergymen.
Church of England
Pbesbytebians
Roman Catholics . .
Wesleyans
Independents
Baptists
Hebrews . .
1240
433
177
300
64
40
19
300
250
100
300
70
70
100
250
150
70
130
50
Rev. Robert Cole
Absent
(Revs. J. P. O'Reilly
\ and M. Le Compte
jRevs. J. Watkin &
1 S. Ironside
Rev. Jonas Wood-
ward
None
None
Sum Total ..
2273
1190
650
44 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
CHAPTER IV.
ORIGINS IN THE WELLINGTON PROVINCE.
Rev. J. Inglis— Unsullied Missionary Records— Rov. W. Kirton — A
Second Congregation in the City-Appointment of Rev. John
Moir — Mr. Moir's Advent — Tlie Hutt and Rev. W. Dron —
Wanganui and Rev. D. Hogg, of United Presbyterian Church —
Turakina and Rev. John Thom— The First Presbytery.
As the mission of the Church, according to Christ, is to
"disciple all nations," early missionaries, in breaking up
new ground in New Zealand, might have said with Kepler,
in his outburst of enthusiasm at discovering the laws of
planetary motion, "Oh, God, we are thinking Thy
thoughts." The development of foreign missions will ever
continue to be one of the outstanding characteristics of
the latter half of the nineteenth century. It is the most
glorious feature of the reign of Her Gracious Majesty
Queen Victoria, whose loyal subjects we are, and has done
more than anything else to justify the extension of the
British Empire and consolidate on a beneficent basis the
scattered fragments of which it is composed. In the early
part of the century the Church had to contend with per-
secution without and heresy and moderation within. She
had no eyes to look afield. She was struggling for life.
Now that conflict is past, and, purified and triumphant,
she braces herself for aggressive work in all lands. We
have already referred to the good work which Rev. James
Duncan did in New Zealand for the Maoris and the Pres-
byterian Church. Another missionary of like spirit followed
them to these shores.
EEV. JOHN INGLIS.
45
Rev. John Inglis arrived at Wellington about Novem-
ber, 1844. He is better known as Dr. Inglis of the New
Hebridean Mission, who initiated
and successfully carried on a
good work on the Island of Anei-
tyum. New Zealand, however,
has the honour of giving to the
New H ebrides one of the fathers
of that Mission. He belonged
to the same church as Mr.
Duncan, and was designated
as a missionary to New Zealand,
at Paisley, on September 26th,
1843, it being intended that he
should follow on Mr. Duncan's
heels, and join hands with him
in his mission work among the
Maoris. But the infrequency of vessels at that time
running to New Zealand, and a strong desire to acquire
some knowledge of medicine, delayed his departure for a
year. On arrival in Wellington Mr. Inglis hastened to the
side of Mr. Duncan, who was labouring among the Natives
on the banks of the Manawatu Eiver. He was not long in
New Zealand until he came to the conclusion that the
Reformed Church had made " a mistake in selecting New
Zealand as its mission field." No doubt the Maori
troubles and the number of missionaries of other Churches
already at work had much to do in bringing him to that
decision. In his well-known work on the New Hebrides,
at page 46, he says :
REV. JOHN INGLIS.
" After the Mission had been in existence for two or three
years we felt satisfied that the Church had committed
a mistake in selecting New Zealand as our mission field. . .
. . . Meanwhile the Blaori War had broken out, and all the
46 HISTORi' OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
settlers and miasionaries were driven into Wellington. While thus
detained there, Mr. Duncan and I employed our time in preaching to
the Presbyterians in Wellington, who were at that time without a
minister. ... As the Maori War was now over, Mr. Duncan,
acting on instructions, returned to his former station, but, acting on
my own convictions of duty, I remained in Wellington for eighteen
months or so, ministering, under temporary arrangements, to the
Scotch settlers, and being supported by them, but corresponding still
with the Committee about a new mission field."
During the vacancy at Wellington the Presbyterians
were particularly fortunate in being able to draw upon the
services of these two distinguished missionaries. Mr.
Inglis, especially, made an efficient supply. He was very
popular as a preacher, and, previous to the arrival of Mr.
Macfarlane's successor, did excellent work in Wellington.
When the Kev. T. D. Nicholson, on his way to Nelson,
called in at Wellington, on May 23rd, 1848, and " preached
five sermons and baptised eleven children," he was there
to receive him, and accompanied him again to the ship
that was to take him to his destination. Congregations
vied with one another in securing his ministrations. Some-
times, as in the case of St. Andrew's, Auckland, in 1850,
on the eve of his departure for the New Hebrides, he was
the innocent cause of considerable envy and heart-burning.
Before taking leave of these two early missionaries we
must point out the untarnished name that they have made
for themselves. They neither interfered with other mis-
sionaries in their work nor were interfered with by any of
them. The experience of Kev. Mr. Turton, the Wesleyan
missionary, was not theirs. In a series of letters written
to the New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator, in
18-14, Mr. Turton complained of what he called " the
bigotry and exclusiveness " of a distinguished ecclesiastic
in seeking to induce the Church Missionary Society to
throw aside its magnanimity, and declare him a layman,
UNSULLIED MISSIONARY RECORDS. 47
and all non-prelatists as schismatics, and in forbidding him
to minister to the Natives of a village where he had acted
as a missionary for eleven years. No hindrance of this
kind was thrown in their way. They left the mission field,
as we have seen, on-ing to other causes, and in leaving it
their character was without a stain. Serious charges of
" land-grabbing " have been brought against some of the
early missionaries. They have been accused by Colonists
and editors of newspapers, and even a Governor, with
abusing their religious influence in acquiring lands at
trifling cost. A wagging tongue has turned " the twelve
apostles and the forty thieves of Hawkes Bay" into a
proverb. Doubtless there were some missionaries who,
by securing extensive tracts of land in the interests of their
families and of the Church, left themselves open to censure.
It may be that there were instructors of the heathen in the
early days who failed to tread in the footsteps of the great
New Testament missionary, who at Corinth and elsewhere
worked, night and day, with his own hands, that he might be
" chargeable " to none, and be charged by none with the love
of filthy lucre and an eye to the main chance, to the dis-
paragement of the Gospel. To that number, however,
Presbyterian missionaries did not belong. It is gratifying
to be able to say that, however the Presbyterian Church
failed to adequately value the responsibilities placed upon
it by the Native population, its oftice-bearers have here
clean hands. No minister or missionary labouring in con-
nection with this Church at any time, or in any district,
took advantage of his position and of Native simplicity to
acquire small or great tracts of land at a cost which pre-
cludes the name of purchase. The spirit of their dealings
with the aborigines was that of the evangelists, Messrs.
Moody and Sankey. When the latter found that immense
sums of money were likely to be realised by the sale of
48 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
their hymn-books, they wisely resolved at the outset not to
touch a penny of it, and had a committee appointed to
distribute the proceeds to various charitable objects, that
their work might not be hindered.
" For right is right since God is God,
And right the day must win.
To doubt would be disloyalty,
To falter would be sin."
The interregnum at Wellington was brought to an end
by the Eev. W. Kirton, a minister of the Established
Church of Scotland, coming on the scene on February
16th, 1850, and at once entering on the work of the pastorate.
Though his stay in Wellington was longer than that of
his predecessor, Mr. Macfarlane, he had some of the same
difficulties, as we shall see, to contend against. Not a few
qualifications for the high office of the ministry were
possessed by him. He had had some experience in the
work of the ministry before coming to New Zealand,
having had a charge in Shields, England. He was a good
scholar, and, what many scholars do not possess, he had
the knack of imparting to others what knowledge he had
acquired. This gift he had cultivated at Home by teaching
a school as well as preaching the Gospel, and he turned it to
practical account in Wellington by keeping a boarding
school in addition to his ministerial work. He arrived, too,
at an auspicious time. Captain Fitzroy, the Governor,
had taken his departure amid the rejoicings of the people
of Wellington, who lighted bonfires in the exuberance of
their joy. Complaints as to the unprotected state of the
town, and the general neglect of the Government at
Auckland to care for its interests, were not so bitter as
heretofore. The first Maori war had been brought to an
end by Governor Grey, who had just been knighted for
his distinguished services. The population of Wellington
REV. W KIRTON. 49
had considerably increased, and so had trade and the
comforts of the people. Under the wise administration
of Sir George Grey, the Colony seemed to be on the
high road to marked prosperity. Notwithstanding all
this, it cannot be said that Mr. Kirton reaped an
abundant harvest at Wellington. Some say that the
congregation never got over the disappointment of not
permanently securing the acceptable services of the Kev.
John Inghs ; others that he devoted too much of his
attention to the demolition of the Pope ; others that as a
pre-millenarian he had more to say about the second coming
of Christ than the first ; others, again, that they should
have liked to have seen him by precept and example to have
given more countenance to the cause of temperance ; and
others still that he belonged to the old school of moderates.
Whatever the cause or causes, the old dissatisfaction
reappeared, and a number withdrew to form a second con-
gregation. How true it is what Eev. M. McCheyne says :
"It is not so much great talents that God blesses as great
likeness to Christ." There is no need to say this in a spirit
of censoriousness. We might all say in the language of
Goethe : "It is only necessary to grow old in order to
become indulgent. I see no fault committed that I have
not been myself inclined to." From this weakening of its
strength the charge had not recovered when Mr. Kirton
decided to accept a call to Kaiapoi in January, 1863, after
being in Wellington about thirteen years.
The second congregation in Wellington began in this
way. During the second year of Mr. Kirton's pastorate a
memorial, signed by sixty-nine persons residing in Welling-
ton, and attested by Mr. Kobert Strang, the Clerk of the
Supreme Court, and Mr. King, a lawyer, was sent to the
Free Church of Scotland asking that an ordained minister
50 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
be sent out to form them into a congregation, and become
their pastor. A number of the signatories were individuals
who had come out to found the Otago Settlement in 1848,
and who in the fluctuations of population incident to a new
country had found their way to Wellington. Their presence
naturally increased the inclination to look to the Free
Church for the supply of Gospel ordinances. Professor
Lumsden was at that time Convener of the Colonial Com-
mittee of that Church. To him a member of the Brechin
Presbytery, Rev. Mr. Nixon, recommended a co-presbyter
of his, the Rev. John Moir, of the Free Church, Menmuir,
and Mr. Moir was appointed. At that juncture Mr. Moir
had been five years in his third charge, and was forty-five
years of age. He began his ministerial career as an
Independent minister, having studied under the celebrated
Dr. Wardlaw. He had had the honour, when settled in
Hamilton, of not only being the pastor of the great African
explorer David Livingstone, but of directing his studies and
turning his thoughts to the mission field. He appears
himself to have possessed not a little of the missionary
spirit, and doubtless this was one of the chief reasons why
he was selected for Wellington. Mr. Moir had great
difficulty in coming to a decision. There were many
obstacles in the way of his going to New Zealand. His
wife was delicate in health, his children were six in number,
and his own congregation at Menmuir strenuously opposed
his release. Moreover, he felt that if he decided to accept
the invitation put into his hands he should have a long and
perilous voyage, run unknown dangers on the other side of
the globe, and would probably never see his father, mother,
or relatives again. In his diary he informs us that the seven
months during which the matter hung in suspense were
the most anxious he had ever passed through. What
chiefly helped him to make up his mind in favour of
APPOINTMENT OF REV. JOHN MOIR. 51
Wellington was that while in Menmuir he had " a narrow
sphere of labour," in Wellington he should have a large
and growing one, that the need for a minister in the latter
place was urgent and could not be so readily supplied, and
above all, that the invitation had come to him unsought.
The entry in his diary concludes : —
" I think it is the Lord's will that I go thither, and I hope to go
in His strength. I will go in the strength of the Lord, making
mention of His righteousness— of His alone. I cast all my interests
and those of my family upon His care, and I know I shall not be
disappointed nor put to shame in the end."
Mr. Moir and family arrived in Wellington by the
" John Taylor " on November 30th, 1853, and conducted
service the following Sabbath in the Athenaeum Hall.
Shortly afterwards he was formally inducted by the Kev.
W. Dron, of the Hutt. Never minister received a warmer
reception. He was welcomed with open arms, and pre-
sented with a silk pulpit gown and a purse of sovereigns.
The congregation under his ministry at once entered on a
prosperous career. Three years after his arrival a new
church was erected in Willis Street at a cost (including the
price of the ground) of £1000 the congregation being
known as Willis Street Congregation. He proved himself
a workman that needeth not to be ashamed. He was a
good classical scholar and a man of much personal piety.
It was a habit of his when retiring for rest to choose a
portion of Scripture for meditation during his waking
moments. Under a reserved and modest demeanour were
concealed a nobility of character which strangers coming
casually into contact with him failed to recognise, but
■which further acquaintance revealed. A Chinese proverb
runs : "A truly great man never puts away the simplicity
of the child." He was great in his life, great in his work,
52 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
and great in his simplicity. Such a man, like the meteoric
stone when it falls to earth, may not shine in society, but
he does not live in vain. What Emerson says is true : —
" Every thought which genius and piety throw into the world
alters it,"
We come now to deal with some rural parishes.
Country ministers in their isolation often struggle to
maintain a show of respectability on slender means, and
are deserving of more sympathy and appreciation than
are usually accorded to them. The anthor of "Private
Thoughts," with much truth remarks, "A poor country
parson fighting against the devil in his parish has nobler
ideas than Alexander the Great ever had." This especially
holds good of early labourers in thinly-populated districts.
The Hutt, another of those places wnere services were
occasionally held by Revs. Duncan and Inglis, had for its
first minister the Rev. W. Dron, a licentiate of the Free
Church. He landed in New Zealand on March 1st, 1852,
nearly two years before Mr. Moir, and therefore in the early
part of Mr. Kirton's ministry. He and Mr. Kirton were for
a time the only settled ministers in the Wellington district.
Mr. Moir used to raise a laugh among his New Zealand
friends by relating how Dr. Guthrie met him one day in
Scotland, and asked him if he would have any other
ministers near to him in New Zealand. When he heard
that one of his next neighbours would be a Rev. W. Dron
— pronounced by some as if it were Drone — he replied,
" What an awful name for a minister. So soon as you can
form a Presbytery, get an Act passed to change that man's
name." There proved to be no need for this. Mr. Dron,
after faithfully labouring in the Hutt district for a number
of years, resigned his charge, and sailed for Home on June
12th, 1858, a disappointed man.
WANGANUI AND BEV. D. HOGG. 53
Wanganui from the beginning has been closely asso-
ciated with Wellington. It began as a settlement at the
close of 1840 by two hundred of the Wellington settlers
who despaired of getting land at Port Nicholson migrating
by sea to Wanganui, which was then called Petre, and
distant 120 miles up the West Coast. It became the field
of Colonel Wakefield's second land purchase from the
Natives, and the first settlement made by the New Zealand
Company after it obtained its charter on February 12th,
1841. It remained under the jurisdiction of the Wellington
Presbytery till as recently as 1884.
A Presbyterian congregation was early organised at
Wanganui. Its first minister was the Rev. D. Hogg, who
belonged to the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland.
He came to New Zealand for the sake of his health, but
was nearly losing his life in Palliser Bay, where the sailing
vessel " Slains Castle " hung for hours on a dangerous reef
of rocks till a strong puff of wind brought her providentially
off. This seems now an appropriate beginning for the
difficult and arduous work which, as it turned out, lay
before him in New Zealand. He arrived in Wellington
on the eve of Christmas, 1852. Though he brought his
ministerial credentials with him, yielding to the representa-
tions of his friends that they were easily carried, his
intention was to occupy a farm which a brother of his had
left him at Nelson. He found, however, many claimants
for his spiritual services. He had no sooner reached shore
in the surf boat at Wellington than Mr. Kirton sought to
book him for St. Andrew's the following Sabbath. There
was also an urgent message for him to go at once to
Wanganui, and take pity on the sheep there who were
without a shepherd. His brother-in-law, Capt. Munn, took
upon him to solve the difficulty in the meantime by carrying
54 HISTORY OF N.Z. PKESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
him off to spend the Christmas holidays with him. In the
first week of the new year Mr. Hogg sailed for Wanganui
in a little schooner called Governor Grey, which belonged
to Messrs. Taylor and Watt, shipping merchants of Wan-
ganui. The voyage occupied ten days. Mr. Hogg's first
congregation numbered about 30 persons. The service
was held in a fragile building which was constructed of
toi-toi, and rejoiced in the dignified appellation of Athenaeum.
The people looking forward with fond anticipations to their
having an acceptable Presbyterian minister of their own,
pressed him to become their pastor. He agreed to give
them the benefit of his ministrations for at least twelve
months. At the expiration of that period, he continued
to dispense to them the ordinances of religion. A grant of
the acre of ground on which the present church manse and
lecture hall now stand was obtained. The congregation
promised a more permanent church by-and-bye, and held
out hopes of better times. He was greatly assisted and
encouraged in his labours, in particular, by Capt. Campbell
and Messrs. Taylor and Watt, the first two being elders,
and the latter a member of the Court of Managers. Few
ministers of any church have had more trying pioneer
work to do than Mr. Hogg. He lived with his family for
years in a small four-roomed cottage unlined, on £100 per
year, his good wife grinding all the flour needed by the
household in a little steel hand mill. When he was not
trudging along muddy and uneven cattle-tracks, he rode a
bullock for a horse. His journeying and labours in a
rough and unopened country were of a Herculean kind.
He seems to have had in the Old Country some little
training for church organisation under difficulties, having
built up a new congregation at East Lothian. Here we
shall leave him for a time, glorying in the sacrifices that
spring from the love to which Sir Walter Scott refers : —
TURAKINA AND REV. JOHN THOM. 55
Love rules the Court, the camp, the grove,
And men below and saints above,
For love is heaven and heaven is love.
Turakina had occasional visits from Mr. Hogg,
but as he had no horse, and the Wilsons, Camerons,
Glasgows, Simpsons, and other settlers had to take
him to and from their district in turn, two days
being occupied each way, these visits of his were few
and far between. They never exceeded one in a
month. A good deal depended on the weather and
the state of the roads. The Colonists at Turakina
therefore eagerly looked forward to the time when
a minister should be settled amongst them. Mr. James
Wilson, who may be said to have been the father of the
congregation, did all that he could to bring about the
accomplishment of this desirable end. He generously
gave the congregation ten acres of land, six for glebe, one
for a day school, and three for a cemetery. His purse was
always open, and his influence always good. One of his
sons, Robert, who married a daughter of Rev. John Moir,
still resides in the district, and worthily walks in the
footsteps of his excellent father. The result was that a
church was built and a manse in progress when the Rev.
John Thorn, of the Free Church, came upon the scene
in 1857. He was cordially received, all the more so
that through an annual grant of £50 from the Free
Church the charge was to be generously fostered for some
time.
There were now five ministers in the Wellington
district, i.e., Revs. Kirton, Moir, Dron, Hogg, and Thom.
With these to begin with, it was considered high time that
a Presbytery should be formed. Accordingly, the Wellington
56 HISTORY OF N.Z. rEESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Presbytery met for the first time on November 8rd, 1857.
The members present were : —
Eev. John Moie, Wellington, Moderator.
Rev. W. Dron, Hutt.
Rev. John Thom, Turakina.
M. QuiNN I
Alex. Yule )
These ministers, it is worthy of note, were all from the
Free Church. St. Andrew's, Wellington, did not at that
time unite with the Presbytery. It stood in the Colony
alone, and maintained its ecclesiastical connection with
the Estabhshed Church of Scotland till 1874, when Rev.
C. Ogg and congregation, with the consent of the Church
of Scotland, were received into the Presbyterian Church of
New Zealand.
Mr. Yule became afterwards one of the first elders of
Masterton. His widow is still living, having reached the
age of 86 years.
In this district there are now two Presbyteries, i.e.,
Wanganui with fourteen settled charges and Wellington
with ten, besides mission stations.
" Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees,
And looks to that alone ;
Laughs at impossibilities.
And cries it shall be done.'
THE CAPITAL OF THE COLONY. 57
CHAPTER V.
LAYING THE FOUNDATION AT THE CAPITAL.
Arrival of "The Duchess of Argyle " and "Jane Gifford" —
Shepherdless Sheep— Rev. W. Comrie— Suddpn Activity — A
Protest At,'ainst the Education Bill — Church Building in Early
Days — Selection of Rev. A. S. Panton — Services in a Courthouse
— The Panton Controversy — Rev. D. Bruce — DitHculties Vanish.
The hoisting of the British flag at Waitemata on September
18th, 1840, by Captain \V . C. vSymonds, on a bold promontory
everlooking the harbour, was the signal for an influx of
population from various parts of New Zealand. A number
of the people of New South Wales were also induced to
cross the sea in the " Chelydra" by the news that Auckland
(named after Lord Auckland, General- Governor of India)
had been chosen as the capital of this Colony. These
migrants from a sister Colony did not come as agriculturists
to settle on the land, but as mechanics to seek employment
in laying the foundations of the new city. Their services
were very acceptable. To settlers dwelling in tents and
whares built of raupo or manuka, with fern for bedding and
rough pieces of logs for furniture, the bluegum timber and
mechanical skill which these Australians brought with them
were exceedingly welcome. The honour, however, of
making the first substantial addition to the settlement
belongs to Scotland.
In the second week in October 1842 the first two
immigrant ships coming direct from Great Britain entered
the Auckland Harbour. One was the ship " Duchess
of Argyle" and the other, the barque "Jane Giflford,"
both from Scotland. The former carried 297 and the
latter 255 passengers. This was a good beginning for the
58 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Northern settlement. One would naturally fancy that
it ought to have been an equally coo<^ beginning for
the Church in that place. The number of Presbyterians
brought by these two ships should have made a most
respectable and flourishing congregation. Additions were
almost daily made to their strength by the population that
flowed in on every side. During the five years that
followed, these sons and daughters of the Church, trained
in the best of all Presbyterian schools, that of Scotland,
saw their numbers more than doubled. Nothwithstanding, it
is sad to relate that during all that time they were without a
church, without organisation, and without as a congregation
systematically assembling for worship according to the
custom of their fathers, and the dictates of their own
consciences. These Presbyterian settlers seemed to have
acted on the principle that the peach tree is foolish to
show its blossoms to the sun before the frosts of spring are
done, and that,
" Much wiser is the mulberry.
Which only thinks its leaves to show
When leaves are green on every tree,
And roses have begun to blow."
Making all due allowance for the difficulties of the times
we cannot free the people from blame. It is no excuse
to urge that they had not the services of an acceptable
minister. Why should the very existence of a church be
made to depend on the presence of a minister ? Is such in
accordance with Reformation doctrine ? Is a people to be
paralysed with helplessness because a full-blown pastor does
not at the right moment put in an appearance? Why
could these poor Scotch Presbyterians not have met them-
selves for praise and prayer and the reading and exposition
of the Word, encouraging one another " in psalms and
hymns and spiritual songs, making melody in their hearts
SHEPHERDLESS SHEEP. 59
to God?" What was to prevent them, except a false
diffidence and unworthy prejudice, from putting forward
some of their own number to conduct meetings for worship
until such times as the services of a trained minister could
be obtained? The state of spiritual impotence is one that
confronts us frequently in the early history of this Colony.
Through it other Churches in many instances have got
the start of us in the race. The civil power, too, taking
advantage of it, as we shall see, seemed sometimes disposed
to treat as non-existent the rights and privileges of the
Presbyterian Church. Perhaps the defect is not so glaring
to-day as it was then, yet the members of our Church need
still to have their attention drawn to it, and the heart of
every man and woman stirred up to obey the Master's
command, " Go work to-day in my vineyard."
The Kev. W. Comrie, of the Established Church of
(Scotland, uncle of the Rev. W. J. Comrie, present minister
of Fairlie, South Canterbury, began services at Auckland in
1813, but they were never largely attended. He failed to
consolidate the scattered fragments of Auckland Presby-
terianism, many of which had broken off from the National
Church at Home. A minister who belonged to the old
school of Moderates was scarcely the man to draw them
together in New Zealand. The poet truly says : —
Persuasion, friend, comes not by toil or art ;
Hard study never made the matter clearer ;
'Tis the live fountain in the speaker's heart
Sends forth the streams that melt the ravished hearers.
Would you, then, touch the heart, the only method known.
My worthy friend, is first to have one of your own.
Mr. Comrie laboured, it is true, under difficulties.
Through the favour of Chief-Justice Martin, he held
60 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
services in the Supreme Courthouse, Queen street. By-
and-bye he was politely informed that these Presbyterian
services were an inconvenience, and he transferred them to
the Total Abstinence Society's Hall. Here he inaugurated
a Sabbath School on March 8th 1844, and carried on
religious work in a small way. It was here in September
of the same year that a meeting of Presbyterians was
held to appoint a Committee to receive ground from the
Government for cemetery and church purposes. Considering
the divided state of the Presbyterians, and the apathy
at that time displayed, one does not wonder that for
many years the request was not acceded to, and that bitter
complaints had to be made regarding the Governments
delay. Attendance at the services held in the Total
Abstinence Society's Hall having dwindled down to a few
individuals, Mr Comrie discontinued them altogether, and
met for worship with some friends in his own house each
Lord's Day. The malcontents doubtless thought they
were displaying a love for sounder doctrine, purer worship,
and superior virtue, but in swelling the assemblies of other
denominations, where they did not feel at home, or in
absenting themselves from public worship altogether, as
many of them did, they took a very poor Avay of showing
it.
At length, on the 4th of May 1847 a large and
influential meeting of the Presbyterians was held in
the Courthouse, to consider the supply of Presbyterian
ordinances. The Hon. Dr. Sinclair, Colonial Secretary,
occupied the chair, and the Hon. Alex. Shepherd, Colonial
Treasurer, moved the first resolution. It was resolved at
that meeting to apply for a minister to the Free Church of
Scotland, and, failing it, to any other branch of the Presby-
terian Church in that country. Mr. Matthew Whytlaw of
CHURCH ORGANISATION PROCEEDS. 61
Edinburgh, in seconding one of the resolutions, intimated
that on one occasion he had laid their case before Dr.
Chalmers, who said : —
I know not how we can help you, for our very popularity puzzles
us. There are at the present time more than 200 congregations
belonging to the Free Church yet uaprovided with a pastor. But if
you can find the willing man, I am sure that our Church will give
all the aid in its power to forward the object.
In the following resolution are to be found the names
of the strong Committee that was appointed on this
occasion : —
"That the following gentlemen, namely :— Hon. Dr. Andrew
Sinclair, Hon. Alexander Shepherd, Capt. Rough, W. S. Graham,
W. Gorrie, M. Whytlaw, James Robertson, J. Walker, Robert Graham,'
R. MacKenzie, Robert Mitchell, WilHam Goodfellow, and T. Cleghorn,
be appointed a Committee (Mr. Whytlaw, Convener) to communicate
with the Colonial Committee of the Free Church of Scotland, and to
receive and collect subscriptions."
This Committee at once set to work in the room, with
the result that before the meeting broke up the sum of
£728 was subscribed. In a week it amounted to £1120.
A site was at last procured from Governor Sir Geo. Grey,
at the corner of Symonds street and Alten road, where St.
Andrew's church now stands, and a deed made out. The
work of gathering in funds and of church organization
now went on apace.
On the 6th of June 1847 the first Sabbath School
connected with the resuscitated charge was opened under
unusually favourable auspices. There was none of the
lack often experienced in such cases of influential and
competent men to put their hand to this important work.
The Hon. Alex. Shepherd, Colonial Treasurer, acted as
superintendent, and taught the senior Bible class, out of
62 HISTORY OK N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
which have come many distinguished men to fill important
offices in the State. His eflforts were ably seconded by Mr.
Matthew Whytlaw and others of like calibre.
How true what William Congreve says :
" For blessings ever wait on virtuous deeds,
And, though a late, a sure reward succeeds."
In view of the activity now manifested and its fruits,
one cannot help feeling sorry that the Auckland Presby-
terians lay upon their oars so long. One of the dis-
advantages of disorganization in dealing with public affairs
wa8 now apparent.
The Presbyterians of Auckland had had occasion to
protest strongly against the exclusiveness of the Marriage
Act in making no provision, prospective or otherwise, for a
representative of the Presbyterians performing the ceremony
of marriage. When this action of the Government in
Council was followed by a similar state of matters on the
Education Bill, then excitement rose to a white heat.
Were they to be deprived of all their rights and privileges,
they asked, " because they had no minister ?" Was the
minister whom they expected shortly to arrive to be placed
upon a footing different from those of the Anglican Church ?
They talked the matter over. They held an indignation
meeting on September 23rd 1847. Otlier denominations
feeling also aggrieved joined them. The town was on the
verge of a whirlpool of excitement. A memorial remon-
strating was prepared, and signed by two hundred pro-
minent members of various communions, and sent in to
the Governor. His Excellency objected to the petitioners
coming forward as "remonstrants." The Government
organ, Tlie New Zealaiuler, threw cold water on the
movement, but The Southern Cross of October 2nd 1847
THE CHURCH AND EDUCATION. . 63
in an able article justified the action taken. It pointed
out that memorialists did not wish to prevent the enact-
ment of an Education Bill, as represented, but say that
they will be " the firm friends of any means that might
secure the blessings of a superior education to all classes
of the community, and that they objected to anything that
would exclude anyone from a participation in its benefits."
Replying to what the Attorney-General said, that " as
their wishes were acceded to in the Marriage Bill, so they
might have taken it for granted that their interests would
have been respected in the Education Bill," he remarked
that the Presbyterians did not ask for a favour, but
demanded a right, and that neither the Attorney-General
nor anyone else ought to place them or others in the
character of petitioners. Why should they be degraded
into the position of begging for their rights ? He
expressed the opinion that " the spiritual and determined
movement of the past week ought to dispel the idea that
one communion is to monopolise all State favours."
Feeling was allayed by the Governor giving the
assurance that " the Act would come giadually into opera-
tion and be susceptible of adaptation to the wants of the
Colony."
To build a magnificent church, such as the first
Presbyterian edifice in Auckland district was designed to
be, was in those days no small undertaking. Sometimes
it was the materials that were difficult to obtain, sometimes
the mechanical skill, and sometimes both. Of scoria there
was abundance not far off, but no one knew the right way
to quarry it. Persons versed in the intricacies of lime
manufacture, as required in the district, were not easy to
procure, and then the lime had to be brought from
Mahurangi. The stone facings needed had to be procured
64 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
at Whangarei, a distance of eighty-eight miles. There
were other difficulties and delays. Shortly after the
building was begun, on December 28th, 1847, heavy rain
turned the interior into a large reservoir, and it was
wittily remarked that the architect had got the foundation
in, but could not get the water out. Before this deep pool
subsided a child who was playing on the margin fell in and
was drowned. To complicate matters still further, the
architect and the contractor got to loggerheads, and the
work came to a standstill. The hands of the trustees were
tied by a nine-months' contract, and they could do nothing
till that period had expired. At the end of that time new
contractors had to be appointed, and a new contract made.
Then the delay brought financial difficulties in another
way. Owing to the Californian gold rush many of the
original subscribers left Auckland in haste, and their
promised contributions were not available. It was
estimated that the large edifice, with buttresses on each
side and Corinthian columns in front, and a lofty massive
tower overlooking all, would cost £2400 ; but, owing to
these untoward circumstances it cost, without buttresses
or tower, a much larger sum. The tower was added
thirty-five years afterwards, and cost an additional £3000,
so that the entire expense incurred by the erection of the
mother Presbyterian church of Auckland Province was
about £6000. It was anticipated that the building would
be ready for the reception of the expected minister on his
arrival, but the above events prevented this.
The choice of the Colonial Committee fell on the Rev.
A. G. Panton. The arrangement was that the Home
Committee, in addition to paying the passage of himself
and family, and £50 for outfit, should be responsible for
£160 for two years, and that the congregation at Auckland
REV. A. G. PANTON. 65
should pay him £150 for two years, and £300 afterwards.
This secured that the newly-appointed minister should get
£300 from the beginning. Mr. Panton arrived on January
15th 1849.
Until the church was completed, Mr. Panton preached
in the old Supreme Courthouse, Queen Street. Marriages
and baptisms for a time came a galore. Many boys and
girls walked to the Courthouse to be baptised. In Moses'
seat was promulgated the gospel of " grace and truth."
Where every wrong -doer was condemned and punished,
pardon was offered to the chief of sinners. Where the
Court Crier called out the names of trembling witnesses,
nuptial banns were proclaimed. Where husband was
sometimes separated from wife, bride and bridegroom were
made one flesh. Though no fines were struck by the
occupant of the bench, the offerings of the first day
amounted to £50. All were highly pleased. The Court-
house was as much crowded as if a murder case was on.
Many had their joke. The elders happened to sit in the
dock ; this gave wags an opportunity of saying : " Quite
right ! they should have been there long ago." So say we.
The new church was opened for divine worship on
April 7th 1850. The Southern Cross of that time says : —
" The Presbyterian church, which has so long engaged the time
and drawn upon the pockets of the Presbyterians, is now opened.
We congratulate the Presbyterian community on the possession of
the finest and best-finished place of worship in Auckland. It has
cost £3500, but it is money well laid out, since, both in sohdity of
structure and convenience and comfort of its internal arrangements,
it is as yet without an equal."
The first officebearers were Hon. Alex. Shepherd, M.
Whytlaw, W. Gorrie, John Nisbet, Wm. Hay, T. S.
Forsaith, G. Deuchar, elders ; and W. S. Grahame, James
GG
HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESRYTERIAN CHURCH.
Robertson, John Gorrie, and A. Wright, deacons. Their
promiscuous character is interesting, and shows the
diflBcult task Mr. Panton undertook in seeking to weld
them together. Mr. Hay was a U.P., Mr. Nisbet a
Cameronian, and Mr. Forsaith, while signing the Confession
of Faith with the others, intimated that he still retained a
preference for the Congregational form of church govern-
ment. Those were not the days for nice distinctions.
Some of the office-bearers of
played an important part in the
history of their country as well
as of their own congregation. In
addition to those we have men-
tioned, we may note that the late
Mr. Archibald Clark who, with his
family came to Auckland in 1849
to carry on a wholesale drapery
business, was an elder of the con-
gregation highly honoured of his
fellow citizens. He was one of the
first Mayors of the City, and a
member subsequently of the House
of Representatives at Wellington.
St. Andrew's have
MR. ARCHIBALD CLARK.
Before Mr. Panton there seemed now to lie a long
ministerial career of much usefulness. He was himself a
spiritually-minded man, and possessed the affection of his
people and the hearty co-operation of his office-bearers.
Presbyterians of the Established and Reformed Churches,
Caraeronians, Seceders, Independents, and Baptists, as
well as members of the Free Church, all rallied round
him. Unfortunately, however, his pastorate in Auckland
was short.
THE PANTON CONTEOVEKSY. 67
The friction between Mr. Panton and his office-bearers,
which came to be designated " The Panton Controversy,"
arose through the employment of Rev. John Inglis who was
known to some of the members of Session and Deacons'
Court, to assist Mr. Panton, especially in the rural districts.
Mr. Inglis came by invitation of Session in 1850, and
proved himself to be a most acceptable preacher and
pastor. The settlers at Tamaki, who found it difficult to
attend services at Auckland during the winter months,
proposed building him a church and giving him a call to
settle amongst them. This gave umbrage to Mr. Panton.
He somewhat indiscreetly accused his office-bearers of
unfaithfulness and irregularity, called a public meeting,
and relegated the matter for settlement to Scotland.
<' The fat was now in the fire." Some took one side, and
some the other. Thus was widened into a yawning gulf
a little divergence of opinion that with a modicum of tact
might easily have been bridged over. Tillotson has truly
said, " A more glorious victory over another cannot
be gained than this : that when the injury began on his
part, the kindness should begin on yours." Instead of
taking this course, Mr. Panton seemed to think it an
occasion for applying the principle of Professor Rainy,
"The crowning evidence of complete success is an action
of damages for defamation of character." The result
achieved was not encouraging. Those railed at said that,
*• being a little lame, he was sensitive ; and having been
a tutor at Home, he was pedantic."
There can be no doubt about there being faults also
on the people's side, as the Convener of the Home
Committee afterwards wrote. There was much need then,
and there is much need still, for the appreciation in the
highest sense to which Ruskin refers : —
G8 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
" Men are enlisted for the labour that kills ; let them be enlisted
for the labour that feeds ; and let the captains of the latter be held as
much gentlemen as the captains of the former."
"Men," says Emerson, "forget that the respectable
man is the man who respects."
At length Mr. Panton decided to return to the Old
Country. Before leaving he published in The New Zeahnider
a protest against any minister of any denomination other
than the Free Church of Scotland " filling the pulpit of
the church in Auckland erected for the use and on behalf
of the congregation of Presbyterians adhering to the
principles of the Free Church of Scotland." This was
surely a very hard and fast line to lay down for a colonial
church in early days, and not complimentary to a large
number of the members of St. Andrew's mixed Presbyterian
congregation itself. Apart from its undesirability necessity
prevented its being carried out. Mr. Panton and family
sailed in the ship " Oliver Cromwell " on October 25th,
1850, a number of his congregation going aboard on the
eve of his departure, and presenting him with a purse of
sovereigns. Over such contention, how the heart of the
Head of the Church grieves.
" Fathers alone a father's heart can know,
What secret tides of sweet enjoyment flow
When brothers love. But if their hate succeeds,
They wage the war, but 'tis the father bleeds."
It seemed not improbable now that the congregation
that had been gathered together with such trouble would
again go to pieces. For a couple of years, contrary to the
injunctions of Mr. Panton, it availed itself of the services
of the Rev. Mr. Inglis, once more in Auckland, of the
preaching staff of the Wesleyans, and of the Independent
minister, as they could be obtained. Many, however.
EEV. D. BRUCE. 69
drifted away to other communions, where, without being
a source of material strength to other denominations, their
presence seriously weakened that of their own.
" 'Tis good to be merry and wise ;
'Tis good to be tender and true;
'Tis well to be off wi' the auld love
Before one is on wi' the new."
A fresh appeal to the Free Church for a minister was
not in vain. At this juncture there came on the scene one
who was destined to play a prominent part in the history of
the New Zealand Presbyterian Church, the Rev. David
Bruce, now Dr. Bruce of Sydney. Though he severed his
connection with this Church many years ago, and went
to New South Wales, where he is at present labouring
energetically as if given a new lease of life, his work is
not forgotten. His name throughout most of the Church's
borders is still familiar. In Auckland district it continues
to be a household word. He has the distinction of being
the brother of Professor A. B. Bruce D.D. of Free
Church College, Glasgow, whose literary works are so well
known.
Being appointed by the Colonial Committee of the
Free Church of Scotland, and ordained to Auckland by the
Presbytery of Aberdeen, as Home Presbyteries now ordain
missionaries to unoccupied fields, the Rev. David Bruce
reached Auckland on the 8th of June, 1853. A trustee of
St. AndreAv's, who boarded the " Simla" in the harbour
to welcome him, had a doleful tale to tell. He frankly
informed him of the extent to which the congregation
had suffered through recent dissensions and lack of a
settled minister. He told him that they had incurred a
debt of £1600, which in those days was considered an
70 HISTORY OF N.Z. PEESBYTEEIAN CHURCH.
enormous sum for a Church to owe ; that only the day
before the congregational treasurer was dragged into a law
court by an irate creditor ; and concluded by saying, " So
ye see what sort o' wark ye hae set before ye I " If he
imagined that the new minister would quail before these
difficulties, he was greatly disappointed. " Gentlemen,"
said Mr. Bruce to his astonished deacons, '' I am resolved
that the debt shall be wiped out in three months' time."
The promise was fulfilled to the letter, and the treasurer
declared that " he had been connected with many
subscription lists, but this was the best of all ! " Everyone
promised liberally, and, what was better still, paid what he
promised. By earnest and active service and a kind and
conciliatory manner the old wounds were gradually
healed, many of the lapsed Presbyterians brought back to
their own fold, and a prosperous congregation again built
up. How true what Emerson says, "The greatest success
is confidence, or a perfect understanding between sincere
people." Well do we sing,
" Work, for the night is coming !
Work through the sunny noon ;
Fill brightest hours with labour !
Rest comes sure and soon."
OEIGIN OF ST. JAMES'. 71
CHAPTER VI.
BREAKING UP NEW GROUND AT AUCKLAND.
Origin of St. James'— A Roving Independent Gaelic Congregation
—Arrivals of Revs. J. Macky, T. Norrie, and R. McKinney —
The First Meeting of the Auckland Presbytery— Mr. Bruce's
Subsequent Church Extension Operations — A Colleague — Finan-
cial Aid from the Home Churches — Premature Settlements.
•' And not by eastern windows only,
When daylight comes, comes in the light !
In front the sun climbs slow — how slowly,
But Westward, look 1 The land is light ! "
The activity of Mr. Bruce in promoting the cause of
Church Extension during almost forty years of his life
has left the entire Church under a debt of gratitude.
Doubtless there is much truth in what Ian Maclaren says
of the organiser in his " Plea for the Spirituality of the
Church ":—
" Everybody will be a secretary or something in a year, but the
people will be going to the next Church for their daily bread. . . .
What we want to-day is not organisers, but preachers."
Still no Church can exist without organisation. In
its early stages especially men with gifts of this kind fill
an important place. They are the drill sergeants of the
Church's army, and do well to move round from pillar to
post. Under Mr. Bruce's fostering care, many a congrega-
tion came to be established. The zeal of himself and
office-bearers in laying the foundation of St. James',
Auckland, where now Rev. R. F. Macnicol is in the
72 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
thirtieth year of his efficient ministry, is worthy of all
praise. Sabbath Schools were established by them at
Freeman's Bay, and Upper and Lower Hobson Street, in
the western and somewhat neglected portion of the town.
They quickly took root. Accommodation for the children
was found first in private houses, then in an unoccupied
flour-mill, and afterwards in a suitable building erected
for the purpose in Hobson Street at the cost of £450.
Here, under the wise and careful superintendence of the
Session of St. Andrew's, Sabbath services were frequently
held by the Rev. John Thom and others ; the people
formed into a self-supporting charge ; and Rev. Peter Mason
finally inducted as the first minister of St. James'
congregation on August 5th, 1862.
The same may be said of St. David's. It owes its
beginning to Mr. Bruce having purchased a site for a
church on the southern side of the town, at the upper end
of Symonds Street, and facing Kyber Pass Road. There
a Sabbath School building was subsequently erected in
1864, and there on a commanding elevation the most
conspicuous of all the city churches now stands, that
Auckland's teeming thousands may,
" Like the stained web that whitens in the sun,
Grow pure by being purely shone upon."
A roving independent Gaelic congregation, carrying
its own minister with it, was surely a novelty in those days.
The late Rev. Norman McLeod of Waipu has seen
many lands, and has had a very chequered career. He and
the attached Highlanders who accompanied him in their
own ship remind us, in their peregrinations, of the
adventures of Ulysses, the hero of Homer's " Odyssey."
Mr. xMcLeod left the Highlands of Scotland while still a
young man and after ministering to Gaelic - speaking
A fiOVING CONGEEGATION.
73
REV. MORMAN McLEOO.
countrymen scattered over the United States of America,
he found his way to the British Colony of Cape Breton,
and congenial work in a com-
munity largely composed of
members speaking the Gaelic
tongue. Here he laboured
successfvilly for many years.
So strong an attachment grew
up between him and his
people, that, when dissatisfied
with their surroundings they
resolved to seek a new home,
they set out in the quest to-
gether. They left Cape Breton
in the year 1851, in their own
ship, with the object of settl-
ing in Australia. Calling at
the Cape in Africa, Sir George
Grey endeavoured to induce them to settle there, but in
vain. In a few months they continued their voyage,
and, reaching Australia, took up their residence there
for a couple of years. At the end of that time they
again took to their ship, and, committing themselves
to the sea, sailed for New Zealand. They finally settled
down in the district of Waipu, some seventy miles north
of Auckland. Here he laboured amongst his loving and
beloved flock of two hundred families till the Sabbath
before his death, which took place in 1866, at the age of
eighty-six years. Visiting "Waipu a few years afterwards,
the minister of Otahuhu wrote the Irish Missionary
Herald as follows : —
" Though possessed of some peculiarities, the Eev. Norman
McLcod was a man of great force of character, and singular energy
and zeal, and has left a memory hallowed beyond anything I ever
74 HISTORY OF N.Z. PBESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
knew in the recollections of his people. It is very affecting to hear
them, often in broken English and with tears in their eyes,
telling of noble traits that would remind you sometimes of a prophet
of Israel, and sometimes of a Christian apostle."
It is pleasing in a new country like this, which is
making its history and where people are not credited with
undue attachment to their ministers, to come upon such
revered " footprints on the sands of time." The
Solomonic proverb finds here a striking exemplification,
" The memory of the just is blessed." So do the words
of an Eastern poet less renowned : —
" As far and wide the vernal breeze
Sweet odours waft from blooming trees :
So, too, the grateful savour spreads
To distant times of virtuous deeds."
We have now to chronicle the arrivals of Revs. J.
Macky, T. Norrie, and R. McKinney. The Church in
them received a considerable addition to its ministerial
strength. Three ministers in three years was then an
unwonted and welcome event. Ireland and Scotland
united in sending of their best to the Auckland field.
The Rev. John Macky, a
graduate of the Glasgow Univer-
'"Z:^ sity, brought with him much
..M^^^^ wisdom, gentleness, and grace
^^^^^H from Fahan, County Derry
fPHIHp^ Ireland, wherein his native land
he laboured for some time as
minister. He is one of the
fathers of the Auckland district
whose memory is to-day greatly
revered. During his long and
faithful ministry of thirty -six
years, he endeared himself to all
REV. JOHN MACKY. •,, , , , ,
With whom he came m contact,
REV. J. MACKY. 75
and was distinguished for his wise counsel in Presbytery and
Assembly. None could be found so ably and so wisely as
he to preside over the interests of the first united General
Assembly of the New Zealand Presbyterian Church. For
twenty-seven years his faithful horse " Jack " carried its
partially blind rider hither and thither throughout his
rough and extensive field of labour, never making a
mistake by night or day. When in 1890, through total
loss of sight, he was obliged to resign the active duties of
the ministry, he had the sympathy of the entire Church ;
and when in the following year he passed quietly away
from earthly scenes to join the ransomed throng before the
throne of Christ, his loss to the Church on earth was
greatly lamented. It is comforting, however, for those left
behind in the struggles of life to be able to say of such
men,
" Far from a world of grief and sin,
With God eternally shut in,
They are for ever blest."
The best prayer we can offer up for the New Zealand
Presbyterian Church is, " May the Giver of All Good
send her many ministers after the spirit of the Rev. John
Macky."
When Mr. Macky landed at Auckland from the ship
" Cashmere," on Sunday August 20th 1854, with his wife
and children, father, mother and sister, he was full of life
and vigour. After preaching in St. Andrew's, Auckland,
which was the only organized congregation then existing in
or around the city, he at once set out to establish a cause at
Otahuhu, Tamaki, and Howick, accompanied by the Rev.
D. Bruce. This district lay south of Auckland, and had an
average breadth of seventeen miles from north-east to south-
west, and an average length of six miles from north to south.
76 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
It comprised the villages of Otaliuhu, Panmure, and Howick,
which were originally pensioner settlements, and exceed-
ingly serviceable in supplying labour on agricultural lands
and on public works. Only a very small number of these
pensioners belonged to the Presbyterian Church. The
fertile lands, however, of Otahuhu and Tamaki attracted a
large number of adroit Scotchmen, who purchased blocks
and settled down upon them. The people of Tamaki, we
have seen, proposed in 1850 to build a church and call
Rev. John Inglis. Though their wishes were not gratified
in regard to the choice of a minister, a building was erected
in that year which served for school and church. Here, at
Otahuhu and at Howick, religious services were conducted
by Mr. Inglis, the Congregational minister of Auckland,
and others, until Kev. D. Bruce arrived in 1853 and took
the oversight.
Mr. Macky carried with him a grant of £100 from
the Irish Presbyterian Church, which was found very
serviceable in the day of small things. His first services
were held at Baird's Store, Otahuhu Wharf. The Baird
family from the beginning, rendered good service to the
Presbyterian Church. It was Mr. Thomas Baird who,
when population increased, gave the site at Otara on which
the church and hall now stand ; and Mr. S. C. Baird, who
presented the congregation with a site for a manse and
an acre of ground for a cemetery.
In few congregations have there been such heated and
protracted differences of opinion regarding the choice of a
church site and the dimensions of the church building, and
in few instances have such differences been attended with
more lamentable results. Two parties have existed from
the beginning, and on many an occasion have tried their
strength. One desired to erect a commodious church in
MR. MACKY'S EAKLY EXPERIENCES. 77
the village of Otahuhn. The other less hopeful contended
for a modest edifice at a place two miles away. The latter
being in the majority, a miserable structure whose
dimensions were thirty by twenty feet was erected at Otara,
and opened on November 14th, 1855. As might have been
expected, the building proved too small for the congregation
and three years afterwards another tussle took place
over the church site and the church's dimensions, with
the result that the space afforded by the little schoolhouse
was increased by one half. A few more years showed the
folly of doing things by halves. The discomfort of the
growing congregation necessitated something being done ;
and, after another grand struggle and house-to-house
canvass, the majority decided to erect the present church
on the old site. That edifice was opened on May 3rd
1863. With a teacher's residence the repeated building
alterations, besides not meeting in many instances the
requirements of the case, cost the greater part of £2000.
This money, however, like all the moneys required by the
charge, was raised without extraneous aid. A Sabbath
School, Prayer Meeting, and Bible Class have been in
existence from its inception. The following account of
Mr. Macky's early experiences and work is transcribed
from his diary : —
" The afternoon was rather unfavourable, and the roads
shockingly bad ; still the attendance was considerable. From this
time continued to preach every Sabbaih morning at Otahuhu, and
fortnightly on the Sabbath afternoons at Tamaki and Howick.
Week-day services occasionally held near Papakura, McLennan's,
Slippery Creek, and Wairoa (about seventeen miles distant), from the
commencement of my ministry here till the arrival of Mr. Norrie in
October, 1855.
6th of May, 1855. — Preached for the first time in the new church
or schoolhouse, it being still in a very unfinished state."
78
HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The Rev. Thomas Norrie, who has been designated
by Bishop Sehvyn as " a typical Colonial minister," and
who is still labouring assiduously
and energetically in the field of
his early endeavours, arrived from
the Free Church of Scotland as
an ordained minister and mis-
sionary on October 17th 1855
by the ship " Joseph Fletcher,"
Shortly after preaching in the
Wesleyan Chapel at Papa-
kura, a call signed by almost
every settler in the district was
Presented to him by the Rev. D.
Bruce ; and Papakura, Drury,
and Wairoa were assigned to him
as his future sphere of labour. It
was that wide and extensive dis-
trict out of which have since
been formed the seven charges of
Waiuku, Pukekohe, Ngaruawahia, Cambridge, Hamilton,
Waikato West, and Te Aroha — a county rather than a
parish. Mr. Norrie is the premier pioneer builder of the
Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. No otlier minister
has put up so many ecclesiastical edifices. He has been
instrumental in erecting no fewer than nineteen churches.
Including the manse at Papakura built in 1888, and a
teacher's residence, he has erected in all twenty - one
Church buildings, at a cost of about £5000, raising to his
own hand most of the money required outside his own
district. This is not a bad record for one individual
minister. Of these churches six still remain in connection
with his charge, namely : —
REV. T. NORRIE.
CHURCH EXTENSION OPERATIONS.
79
Church.
Time of Opening. Cost.
Drury..
Wairoa
Papakura
Papakura Valley . .
Hunua
Ness Valley . .
June 20th, 1858..
December 26th, 1858..
January 23rd, 1859..
January 4th, 1863..
November 21st, 1875..
June 16th, 1877..
£.
.. 250
.. 151
.. 300
.. 85
.. 90
.. 67
Although so many slices have been taken from bis
original parish, he still supplies twelve different stations
with services, three with a weekly, two with a fortnightly,
and seven with a monthly service. This entails the
herculean labour of preaching five times on one Sabbath
and four on another. Though the places are not very far
apart, the physical strain which this work imposes h such
as few ministers could stand. A pastor of a Home Church
with his two Sabbath services, or, it may be, only one,
would lift his hands in holy horror at such ministerial
labour being crowded by a creature of flesh and blood into
the working hours of the Lord's Day. On Sabbath Day,
to the country ministers of New Zealand who begin
working "while the dew is sparkling," and continue long
after "the last beam fadeth," the exigencies of the
country seem to say,
" Give every flying minute
Something to keep in store ;
Work, for the night is coming
When man works no more."
The Rev. R. McKinney, who hke Mr. Norrie is
still actively engaged ministering to the charge in which
80 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTEKIAN CHURCH.
be first began work, had before coming to the Colony been
minister of Saltersland, County Derry, Ireland. He has
reason to have pleasant memories over his departure for
New Zealand. The renowned Dr. Cooke gave the address
on the occasion of his designation to the Colonial field in
the Magherafelt Presbytery ; and leave was taken of him
at a public entertainment in Londonderry, attended by
many leading clergymen and laymen of the "Maiden City"
and district. He arrived in Auckland on October 8th,
1856. He was designed for Mahurangi, a settlement
about thirty miles north of Auckland.
Mr. Bruce, the unwearied pioneer of so many outlying
districts, had been to Mahurangi two years before, and
had begun to hold services in a house owned by Captain
Daldy, who on more than one occasion has proved himself
to be a good friend of the Presbyterian cause there. He
gave a valuable glebe of fourteen acres as a site for a
manse and church, ten acres gratuitously and four acres
which he allowed the Church to have at one-fourth their
value. Here Mr. Bruce had a building erected which was
intended to serve for both a church and a manse, and
to be ready for Mr. McKinney's reception. He had also
a church set on foot at Mahurangi, and a small church
built at Matakana on a site granted by Mr. W. Aitken of
Auckland.
Mr. McKinney therefore had a good beginning. He
was inducted by Mr. Bruce into the charge on the same
day as that on which the Mahurangi Church was opened,
i.e., December 13th 1856. Mr. McKinney found the
manse delightfully situated on a rising ground, the
centre of a circle that had for its circumference a
mountain range clothed with primitive forest to the very
summit. The land, however, he found to be inferior, even
FIEST MEETING OF AUCKLAND PRESBYTERY. 81
on the banks of the Mahurangi and Matakana where most
of the settlers resided. It was easy to see that the two
hundred Colonists of all denominations living there could
never hope to be rich, or to increase in numbers by large
additions from the outside world. We take the following
from a letter written to the Irish Mission Board :—
"Mr. McKinney at once entered on the pastoral work of his
scattered parish, preaching on one Sabbath in the morning in the
Mahurangi Church, and in the evening in a house belonging to the
Government at Mahurangi Heads ; and on the alternate Sabbath, in
the morning in Mr. Whytane's flax-mill, Matakana, and in the
evening in a house at Matakana Heads, belonging to Mr. Green-
wood."
Referring to other places where services were held,
the writer says : —
" The principal of these places are Pakiri, Mangawai,
Kaiwaka, and Little Omaha. In Little Omaha, a monthly service
has been held for a length of time in the house of Mr. McKenzie.
Services are also sometimes held in the Island of Kawau, in the
house of Sir George Grey. . . . His district is so intersected
with rivers and inlets of the sea as to make visitation of it extremely
difficult. . . . The minister of this place since bis settlement in
it has been obhged, for the most of the time, to pull himself in his
own boat on alternate Sabbaths, often against wind and tide, a
distance of about fourteen miles — besides preaching at least twice —
a work that is probably without parallel in the history of modern
clerical life."
The first Auckland Presbytery met on October 15th
1856 in St. Andrew's Church. The ministers present
were Revs. D. Bruce, John Macky, T. Norrie, and R.
McKinney.
There are now twenty-six settled charges conncctsd
with this Presbytery and nine Mission stations.
As usual, we have brought the history down to the
first meeting of Presbytery. It is fitting, however,
that something should be said here regarding Mr.
82 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Bruce's subsequent Church Extension operations. The
zeal manifested by Mr. Bruce in the cause of Church
Extension was greatly in advance of his time. It
knew no bounds. Even the sea did not seem to
him an insuperable barrier in the way of realising the
corporate union of two Presbyterian communities having
the same doctrine, government, and worship. He was one
of those energetic and far-seeing men who conceived the
lofty idea of gathering all the scattered fragments of
Presbyterianism in both Islands into one grand United
Church. He thought that speaking with one voice
they should exercise a powerful influence on the
State and, covering the whole land from the North
Cape to the Blufl' with a network of Scriptural
agencies worked on the same lines and pulsating
with the same life, should win New Zealand for
Christ. The advent of both inter-Island and inter-Colonial
steamboats in the second decade of the Colony's history
seemed to make the project feasible. If negotiations with
the Southern Church at this early stage failed, the fault
was not his. He at least showed no lack of hope or of
perseverance, and turned away from no sacrifice in order
to secure the consummation devoutly to be wished. If
anything, he erred on the side of enthusiasm. He did not
make sufficient allowance for the more slowly moving
natures of some of the spirits of Otago in the extreme
South. At the preliminary Conference held in Dunedin
in 18G1 on the subject of " Union " he moved the chief
resolutions, brought up the Report of the Committee
appointed to formulate a " Basis of Union," and in all
the negotiations took a leading and conspicuous part.
He was present at the Convocation which met in
Auckland the year afterwards to perfect the work of
Union, and again brought forward the motions that were
A COLLEAGUE FOR ME. BRUCE. 83
finally adopted. The first General Assembly of 1862
could find no one so suitable to act as the Convener of the
first Church Extension Committee of the New Zealand
Presbyterian Church.
A colleague for Mr. Bruce was early provided.
It was thought by the office-bearers of St. Andrew's,
as congregation and city were growing and the claims
made on their minister increasing, that an assistant
would be exceedingly acceptable. Accordingly a Commission
was sent home to Scotland, and the Key. James Hill,
minister of Scone, was selected. Mr. Hill, when a
theological student at Edinburgh, was acquainted with the
Rev. Mr. Pan ton, and was naturally much interested in
his Colonial labours. At an early period, therefore, Mr.
Hill had his thoughts turned to New Zealand. He arrived
in 1863, and was inducted on November 3rd as second
minister of St. Andrew's. The Rev. Peter Mason having
resigned the charge of St. James' on April 6th 1864, Mr.
Hill was inducted on July 19th of the same year, and at
once set about the work of building the present St. James'
Church.
Such was Mr. Bruce's zeal for Church Extension, and
such the needs of the Church at that time, that, by
direction of the General Assembly, the Presbytery of
Auckland temporarily released him from the charge of St.
Andrew's, in order that he might visit neglected districts,
and appointed Rev. Mr. Thorn to take his place in
Auckland. The Church Extension Committee reported
thus to the General Assembly of 1863 regarding the result
of these peregrinations : —
" In the course of that time he visited the following places : —
Takaka or Golden Bay, Motueka and the Waimeas, Pictou, the
Wairau Valley, the Awatere Valley, Kaikoura and the Amuri, the
84 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Hutt, Wairarapa, from Masterton to Castle Point, and the most of
the stations on the overland route from Wellington to Napier. The
result of his visit was that there were found at these several places
numbers of Presbyterians, averaging froni 150 to 250, and forming at
the very least an aggregate of from 1300 to 1500 souls, who are
receiving no regular spiritual instruction from the Church to which
thoy belong, and in some instances scarcely any religious visitation
or superintendence from other denominations worthy of the name.
Another result was that by an exposition of the Assembly's Church
Extension Scheme, either in personal interview or on occasion of
public service held, or by other means, the people in most of the
districts visited were instructed more or less in the objects
contemplated thereby, and induced to express formally their desire
to have for themselves and their families the benefits of a resident
ministry. Accordingly calls were made out and very generally
subscribed to, and by the Committee have been forwarded to the
Assembly's Commissioners at Home, with instructions that ministers
be sent with as little delay as possible to the districts from which
the calls proceed."
Some of these calls, with blank spaces for names,
were sent to Scotland, and some to Ireland, according to
the Church at Home from which the majority of the
settlers in a given district had come. At the same time
was solicited the financial aid of the Home Churches.
" The Free Church of Scotland, tho United Presbyterian
Church of Scotland, and the Presbyterian Church of Ireland have
severally been asked to contribute ^100 per annum for some time
towards enabling the Church at once to occupy these long-neglected
districts."
These Home Churches have given to this appeal a
liberal response. From that day to the present they have
been assisting this young New Zealand Church in money
and in men. The Free Church has not contributed so
systematically and handsomely in money year by year as
the National Church of Scotland and the Irish Presbyterian
Church, with their £100 per year each, but the noble band
AID FROM THE HOME CHURCHES. 85
of ministers she has from time to time fitted out, and with
passages paid sent across the sea to occupy the Colonial
field cannot be measured in pounds, shillings, and pence.
What would the New Zealand Church be without her
Free Church ministers ?
Of the seventeen ministers who came to New Zealand
in 1871-72, the vast majority belonged to " the great
missionary Church of Scotland," the Free Church. During
that "red letter year" in the history of the Church,
the number of ministers in the Auckland Presbytery was
doubled. Twelve, at least, of the new comers were the
result of a visit paid by Eev. D. Bruce to the Old Country.
Previously he had appealed successfully by letter ; now he
made intercession in person, with magnificent results. It
mast be noted, however, that most of these ministers were
required to occupy places vacated by ministers who had
preceded them and taken their departure for other fields.
The truth is that not a few of the charges formed in those
early days, and provided with separate ministers, proved to
be premature settlements.
Goethe says : — " Happy the man who early learns the
difference between his wishes and his powers." Such a
man will not dissipate his energy by aiming at the
impossible ; and it does seem too much to expect that all
our ministers and Church members will realise that, as
Froude puts it, " In common things the law of sacrifice
takes the form of positive duty." The pastor of a small,
struggling country charge cannot always be depended
upon to rise to the conception of Eenan, " So soon as
sacrifice becomes a duty and a necessity to man, I see no
limit to the horizon which opens before him," and to perceive
that no one ever escapes from the struggles of life without
a stain.
86 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
A minister is set down in a sparsely-peopled district.
He is obliged to preach at least three times a day in places
wide apart. This is only a small part of his duty. So far
from imitating the example of some luxurious city parsons
at Home who preach a couple of " cultured" sermons in
the same place each Lord's Day, and resign their con-
gregations every Sabbath evening for a week, the country
minister spends the greater part of his time in the
saddle, going from district to district and visiting from
house to house. He is in most places kindly received,
but he experiences a great lack of liberality, enthusiasm,
co-operation, unity, and all that goes to make up real
Church life. He must himself be preacher, pastor,
teacher, lecturer, organiser, financier, and much more, all
rolled in one. " Dark Care " sits behind the ecclesiastical
horseman. To meet current expenses is a constant worry.
Then churches must be erected and a manse built, and
funds slender enough at other times are totally unable to
meet the strain placed upon them. To " raise the wind"
he raust resort to all sorts of expedients, from tea meetings
to Church bazaars, until he is ready to exclaim, in
language of the great dramatist much admired by the late
Mr. Gladstone in the midst of the multifarious State
duties thrust upon him,
" 0, 'tis a burden, Cromwell — 'tis a burden
Too heavy for a man with hopes of heaven."
To add poignancy to his anguish of soul, the Church,
from which he expected better things, instead of
generously and sympathetically coming to his help, leaves
him severely alone to struggle on unaided in his lonely
isolation. It is hardly to be wondered at if, under these
circumstances, a minister, in days when there was a
hurrying to and fro on the face of the earth and every
newspaper contained long lists of unclaimed letters, should
PEEMATURE SETTLEMENTS. 87
come to the conclusion that he was spending his energy
preaching to a handful, when he might be edifying
thousands. Is it a cause for wonder that he should learn
by experience that men are like sheep, of which a flock is
more easily driven than a single one ; and that congregations
are Hke bee-hives, one large united congregation being
worked at less expense of brain, muscle, and money, and
producing better results than two or three struggling
independent ones ? One does not know whether most to
blame ministers for deserting their posts, ecclesiastical
pioneers for erecting premature charges, or the Church at
large for not rising to the occasion, and with a large heart
and generous hand fostering into strength these struggling
congregations ; or most to admire the men who have battled
on without much sympathy in the midst of all their
difficult surroundings.
Ordinances in all settlements ought, by some method,
to be supplied. Deprived of the blessings of a preached
Gospel, the dwellers in " bush settlements " and districts
remote from towns do not become unattached saints.
They live and move, we know, in such an atmosphere of
sense, and have become so habituated to the sight and
touch of material things, that too often ■" the Unseen "
fades before their minds into a dream ; and the day on
which Sunday falls, if known, is scarcely more sacred than
any other day of the week. Suitable agents, lay or
otherwise, ought to be supplied, and the whole Church
realise the prayer of Christ, " That they all may be one,
as Thou, Father, art in Me and I in Thee : that the world
may know that Thou hast sent Me." This was not unlike
the dream of Tennyson : —
" One God, one law, one element,
And one far-off event
To which the whole Creation moves."
88 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
CHAPTER VQ.
THE LIFTING OF THE CLOUDS AT NELSON.
A Visit from Rev. John Macfarlane, Wellington— An Exhortation
from Scotland— Dependence Solely on the Teaching Elder an
Evil— The Disruption Delays— The Wairau Massacre— Appoint-
ment of Rev. T. D. Nicholson— Laying the Foundation Stone
of Nelson Church— A New Zealand Creed— Education in Nelson
—April Blasts— Testimonial to Mr. Nicholson— Rev. P. Calder
Arrives— The Ralph Turner Donation— Mr. Nicholson in Wairau
Valley— The Nelson Trust Fund— The Mission of Rev. D. Bruce
—Rev. A. Russell— First Meeting of the Nelson Presbytery.
The settlement of Nelson by the New Zealand Company
followed closely upon the settlements of Wellington and
Wanganui. A preliminary expedition, consisting of
Captain Wakefield, Resident Agent of the Company,
surveyors, surveyors' assistants, and ordinary labourers,
arrived at Nelson in the ships " Whitby" and " Will
Watch " from Gravesend, in November 1841, and at once
hoisted the British flag on a hill overlooking the harbour.
They were followed by the ** Fifeshire," which with the first
immigrants on board came to anchor in the snug little bay
on February 1st 1842, and she by other boats bearing
their living freight. All the newly-arrived Colonists,
when they had looked around them and got over the
inconveniences accompanying the initiatory stages of
settlement in a strange land, were dehghted with their
new home. In contrast to Wellington, they found good
agricultural land sufficient for all present needs close to
EEV. JOHN MACFARLANE VISITS NELSON. 89
the site of their new town. The harboui', they boasted, was
in some respects superior to that on the other side of
Cook's Strait, in spite of the fact that vessels desirous of
entering had sometimes to wait six hours for the rising
tide. Many likened it to the Piraeus, the offspring of the
fertile brains of Themistocles and Pericles, and the outlet
for the commerce of historic Greece ; others to the harbour
of Trieste, the famous Austro-Hungarian seaport of the
Adriatic, and were disposed to give it the palm over both.
They went into raptures over the climate, and quoted
statistics to show that while the rate of mortality in most
European countries was 1 in 44, in Nelson they had
found it to be only 1 in 239. The settler afterwards
rich in flocks and herds, who threw the last sixpence he
had in his pocket overboard, that he might land and begin
a Colonial life penniless, was a specimen of the self-reliant
spirit and buoyant hopefulness possessed by the Nelson
settlers of early days. They little realised then the sad
calamity that was to befall the Settlement in 1843, the
year of the Wairau Massacre to which we shall imme-
diately refer.
The Government brig ''Victoria" arrived in Nelson
on Tuesday May 3rd 1842, and brought with it the Rev.
John Macfarlane, the Presbyterian minister of Wellington.
He crossed the Straits to sympathise with the Presbyterians
of Nelson, who were as sheep without a shepherd, and to
render them whatever help was in his power. In the
Nelson Examiner of the following Saturday appeared an
advertisement intimating that he would hold services on
the coming Sabbath at the Emigration Depot, both in the
forenoon and afternoon, and that persons wishing to be
married, and parents desirous of having their children
baptised, were to apply to him at the depot before the
90 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
morning service. The Presbyterians of Nelson took
advantage of these novel and welcome services, and at the
same time expressed a strong desire for a resident
clergyman and a permanent place of worship. An
advertisement to that effect appeared for a month in the
local paper, in hopes that it might in the Colony or at
Home meet the eye of someone who should be able to
help them in the realization of their wish. A memorial,
too, asking the General Assembly in Scotland to supply
the need, was prepared and put into the hands of Mr.
Macfarlane for transmission to its destination. It stated,
" The population of Nelson amounts to about 1700 souls, of
which fully three hundred may be Scots ; and the number
is daily increasing." iMemorialists asserted that they
were not able to procure for their infants the sacred
ordinance of baptism, " whilst the impossibility of having
the rite of marriage duly performed by an ordained
clergyman, has led, and must still lead, to irregularities
to be deplored as at variance with sound morality and
the best interests of the Colonists." They concluded by
hoping that someone of the licentiates at Home might
come to their assistance, and that " the Church itself
will not be wanting in liberality," they in Nelson doing all
that they could to " promote his comfort and usefulness."
A year afterwards, or in April 1843, a reply was
received from Dr. Welsh by Mr. Macfarlane, in which the
Convener of the Colonial Committee says : —
"It has been the anxious wish of the Committee, for a
considerable time past, to send out to you a fellow-labourer who
might cheer your heart by his presence, and strengthen your hands
by his counsel and co-operation. They regret that the state of the
funds puts it altogether out of their power .... that the time
may soon come when they may be able to send out u minister."
AN EXHOETATION FROM SCOTLAND. 91
The letter concluded with the following advice :—
" In the meantime we would recommend that some arrangement
should bo made for religious meetings on Sabbaths, under the
conduct of men of godliness and influence, who might be selected
with your advice and assis^.ance."
The exhortation of the Convener was much needed.
One proof of this was that it was not taken. Previous to
1848, there is no record of meetings held or of religious
work carried on in Nelson in connection with the
Presbyterian Charch, although a Roman Catholic priest
was labouring there as early as 1844 ; and an Anglican
minister, and Wesleyan lay preachers were at work ; and
Temperance, Friendly, and School Societies had an exist-
ence from almost the very beginning. This is a
question that bears closely on the well-being of the
Presbyterian Church, especially in these Colonies. In
early history it meets us again and again. The cry in
very many cases is — "The Wesleyans and others have
preceded us ! " Why should this be so ? We do not believe
in the Romish doctrine, that the clergy constitute the
Church; and yet we have practically come in many
instances to adopt that position in placing dependence
solely on the teaching presbyter.
The high development of the teaching elder in the
Church is at the same time its weakness and its strength.
It was never intended, when at first from among the
general elders some particularly " apt to teach " were set
apart chiefly to " labour in word and doctrine," to prevent
or even discourage the others from exercising whatever
gifts of teaching they possessed. They might still not only
assemble in Church Courts, and with the teaching elder
discharge the duties proper thereto, and ofdciate in the
sick room, Sabbath School, and Prayer Meeting ; but it
92 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
was their privilege and their duty, if urgent necessity
required and some degree of fitness were possessed, to
mount the 7-ostrum and lead the services of the sanctuary
on the Lord's Day. The disparity, however, which
through the advance of ministerial education and training
has gradually grown up in the Colony between the
teaching presbyter and his fellows, has made the latter
slow to teach, and the congregation slow to hear. The
consequence is that, where the minister is removed by
death or otherwise and no outside help is at hand, the con-
gregation ceases to assemble, and becomes totally dis-
organized.
The remedy seems to be as follows: — (1) Let ministers
be careful to teach that the differences which at present exist
between various classes of elders are differences of gifts
rather than of office, and encourage and expect from this
quarter much assistance in the work of their congregations.
(2) Let the differences be minimised as far as possible, by the
appointment to the eldership in every congregation of men
of superior gifts and graces, the aim being to level up,
not to level down. (3) Let the Church fill up the gap
by calling into being, from the eldership if possible, an
intermediate class of Church workers, after the manner
of the teachers, helps, and evangelists of Apostolic times,
who shall not be eligible for a call to a congregation, but
who can always be depended upon to supply ordinances
to vacant charges and outlying stations, and generally
to promote the pressing and important work of Church
Extension in this growing Colony. (4) Let the ordinary
members be taught that whether spiritual office-bearers
are appointed over them in largo numbers, or not at all,
the responsibility of the exhortation, " Let him that
heareth say come," rests on them ; and that in cases of
THE WAIRAU MASSACEE. 93
emergency they ought to be able, like the early Christians,
to " exhort one another in psahiis and hymns and spiritual
songs." This would make the congregation such a
bee-hive of workers, that in no case through the dropping
out of a labourer would the work cease.
Whatever hope of being able to send out a minister to
Nelson there was at the end of 1842, when Dr. Welsh
posted his letter at Edinburgh, it vanished into thin air
under the withering influence of the Disruption. The
people of Scotland were too deeply absorbed in Home
affairs to have any ear for the complaints of destitute
Presbyterians on the other side of the globe. This state
of matters continued for some time. Those members of
the National Church, who remained in, found all their
energies taxed to provide ministers for their numerous
vacant fragmentary charges ; and those, who walked out,
discovered that the popularity of their cause created the
greatest difficulty in supplying with ministers the large
and numerous Free Church congregations who looked to
them for the supply of ordinances. If there was spiritual
destitution at Nelson, there was also spiritual destitution
at Home. But what, perhaps, more than anything delayed
the appointment of a minister for Nelson was the " Wairau
Massacre." This dread event of June 17th 1843, by
which twenty Colonists including Captain Wakefield and
other representative men lost their lives, had far-reaching
consequences. It shocked Europe, checked immigration
from Great Britain to New Zealand for years, threw the
whole of the New Zealand Company's Settlements into a
state of excitement and alarm, and gave rise to a prolonged
and acrimonious controversy between the Company and
their settlers on the one hand and the Government on the
other.
94
HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
After a strict investigation into all the circumstances
on the spot, Governor Fitzroy, lately arrived, decided that
the agents of the Company were wrong in persisting with
the survey of lands whose disputed title had not been
investigated by Mr. Spain, the Government Land Com-
missioner appointed for the purpose ; and that the Maorig
were wrong in slaying unarmed men after they had
surrendered. There the matter ended. No punishment
SCENE OF THE WAIRAU MASSACRE.
succeeded. Many thought afterwards that if the Governor
had demanded Wairau Valley as compensation for the
murdered men, it would have been acceded to without
demur, and prevented the Natives supposing that the
decision was dictated by cowardice. The Maori War that
shortly broke out seemed to lend colour to this idea, and
to give point to the indignation meetings held, the strong
APPOINTMENT OF REV. T. D. NICHOLSON.
95
resolutions passed, and the protesting deputations formed
in Wellington, Nelson, and elsewhere. In process of time,
however. Captain Grey came on the scene, and in 1848
brought the war to an end by carrying off to the ship one
early morning before daylight the same old Maori chief
whose attempted arrest was the occasion of the Wairau
massacre. Affairs at Nelson then settled down into their
wonted calm, if a state of matters can be called such, in
which dissatisfied land claimants blamed the Government
for not encouraging and promoting settlement, and dis-
appointed labouring men blamed the New Zealand
Company for scarcity of work, lowness of wages,
insufficiency of food, and breach of faith. The population
had so far increased that in the town and rural districts
lying around there were about 3000 persons when the first
Presbyterian minister put in an appearance.
An appeal to the Free Church of Scotland was
attended with better results. Its
,. , .-,. Colonial Committee appointed
to Nelson the Rev. Thomas
Dickson Nicholson on a three
years' engagement at £300
per year. This was complying
with the request of the Nelson
Presbyterians to be liberal. Mr.
Nicholson, having accepted the
appointment, preached his fare-
well sermon at Lowick, England
on November 7th 1847. The
circumstances under which it
was delivered, and the tender
leave-taking that followed, was
experienced by him to be a
trying ordeal. This is evidence of the conscientious way
REV. T. D. NICHOLSON.
96 HISTORY OF N.Z. PEESBYTEEIAN CHURCH.
in which he took up and laid down the duties of the
ministerial office. Some of the sermons written at home
by him have come down to us. They have many
excellencies. The thoughts are clear, the diction incisive,
the arguments cogent, the illustrations apt, and the home
thrusts pointed and practical, and full of evangelical
sentiment, amply justifying the choice of the Home
Committee.
Fortunately, we have also a valuable journal written
by Nelson's first minister, which he designated " a
collection of sea-weed," and which gives an account of
his voyage out, his settlement in Nelson, and his experiences
there up to the year 1857, when he removed to Blenheim.
His wife and children were passengers on board the
historic " John Wickliffe " when that vessel, with the first
party of settlers on board bound for the Free Church
Colony of Otago, set sail from Gravesend on November
24th 1847. Cicero, Scott, Carlyle, and many more point
out the attachment felt by a good man for his native land.
Mr. Nicholson's regret in bidding good-bye to the country
of his birth is embodied in lines quoted by him :
" They left their native land, and far away
Across the waters sought a world unknown ;
Yet well they knew that they in vain might stray
In search of one more lovely than their own."
During a fierce gale encountered at the beginning of the
voyage the " John Wickli£fe " found refuge in St. Helen's
Bay, Isle of Wight, at the same time as the " Philip
Laing " ran for shelter into Gal way Bay. Then follow in
his well-kept diary many expressions of pity for the
victims of recent shipwrecks, commercial distress,
epidemics carrying off thousands in Great Britain, a
passing Portuguese slave-ship, and of gratitude to God
EEV. T. D. NICHOLSON'S ARRIVAL. 97
for " His sparing mercy toward unworthy us." Evidence
of deep piety crop up again and again. The sea, the
sunset, the flying fish, the orbs that rule the day and
night, the many passing ships, the ports of call, and
islands passed, transferred to his journal in little pen-and-
ink sketches, all excite in him thoughts of awe and
reverence. Though there were 95 "souls on board,
exclusive of crew and surgeon," we have no reference to
any one of them or to the usual tittle-tattle of a ship.
Being the only minister among the passengers, a prayer
meeting was held by him every evening, and divine
service conducted each Sabbath Day, when the weather
permitted. A school was also "talked into existence,"
with an attendance of 24 children. Life on board ship
was itself a school for young and old. He was ignorant,
he confesses, of many of the lessons to be derived from
the wonders of the deep, as he expresses it in one of his
many apt poetical quotations,
" Till he saw how the innocent creatures played
In the billowy depths, and were not afraid ;
Till he saw how the nautilus spread his sail,
And caught as it flew the favouring gale :
And great and small through the watery realm
Were steered as it were by a veering helm."
Rounding the southernmost end of the Middle Island of
New Zealand they arrived, after a prosperous voyage, at
the entrance to Port Chalmers on the morning of
Wednesday March 22nd 1848, and saw " no boat upon
the waters, no smoking chimney, no signs of man "
anywhere. On the second Sabbath after landing, i.e.,
April 9th, Mr. Nicholson preached at the Emigration
Barracks, Dunedin, at 11 o'clock, taking for his text one
very suitable for the first sermon in a new settlement on
foreign shores, "Neither is there salvation in any other.
98 HISTORY OF NZ. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
for there is none other name under heaven given among
men whereby we must be saved " (Acts iv., 12). The
theme of his afternoon discourse on the same day at the
landing-place was not less appropriate for young New
Zealand, " Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his
way ? By taking heed thereto according to Thy Word "
(Psalm cxix., 9). Three weeks after his own arrival he
sighted the " Philip Laing," and found how delightful it
was to meet with Mr. Burns and his friends in this far-off
land, and to give them a hearty welcome to the shores of
their future home. " The first child baptised by Mr.
Burns in the Colony, and the first birth since the arrival
of the Colonists," was the son of Mr. Nicholson, the water
used being brought all the way from the Thames, and the
name being " John Wickhffe McWhir Daly."
Bidding adieu to Port Chalmers, the Nicholson family
arrived at Port Nicholson in the " John Wicklifife " on
May 23rd. Here they found Eev. J. M. Inglis supplying
Presbyterian services, and stayed three weeks. During
that time Mr. Nicholson "preached five sermons and
baptised eleven children," and bade an affectionate
good-bye to the old ship that had borne him safely across
the ocean wide, and which now sailed for Bombay.
Nelson was reached on the morning of Sabbath, the
18th of June 1848. Mr. Nicholson lost no time in
getting into harness in his new field of labour. That
same evening he " preached in Mr. Campbell's large
school-room to a goodly audience of attentive listeners,"
Mr. Campbell being a Presbyterian who had done much
in early days for the cause of education in Nelson.
A more permanent and respectable place of worship,
however, was deemed urgently required by the Presbyterians
of Nelson, very many of whom were well-to-do Scotchmen.
FOUNDATION STONE OF NELSON CHURCH. 99
Out of a population of 3089 in the town and rural districts
adjoining, 313 were Presbyterians, mostly of this character.
A building scheme was set on foot in July, and soon after-
wards it was announced that 30 persons had contributed
the sum of £200, and that there was more to follow. D.
Sclanders, Esq., gave £20, and Rev. T. D. Nicholson and
Messrs. W. Wilkie, D. Moore, and T. Renwick, M.D., £10
each. These were followed hard by Mr. George McRae,
who afterwards left £700 for
the Foreign Mission and £300
for the Nelson and Blenheim
congregations.
February 22nd 1849 was,
so far as the Presbyterians were
concerned, a red-letter day in
Nelson. On that day was to be
laid the foundation-stone of a
new Presbyterian Church, the
only stone that was to go into „« /> « ».„
the building, the design being
to erect a structure of wood on
a brick foundation to seat 350 persons. A large con-
course of people assembled. Amongst those present were
the ministers of all the leading Churches, i.e., Aiiglican,
Methodist, and German Lutheran, with many of their
hearers. The speech delivered by Mr Nicholson on the
occasion has been preserved. It was couched in con-
ciliatory terms, and yet it showed that the speaker was
possessed of a large amount of backbone, and was not
afraid to " use great plainness of speech." After referring
to the brotherhood of Christ, and the revival of the
primitive spirit of Apostolic times, he went on to say : —
" Surely Presbyterians might be allowed to have a preference for
the communion to which they belonged. They need not be ashamed
100
HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
of Presbyterianism. Contrast the state of England in vital religion
in Puritan times and after the restoration of Charles II., and the
ejection of the 2000 Nonconformists ; contrast the present state of
Presbyterian Ulster with any other province of Ireland ; contrast the
state of Scotland with any other country in Europe ; and every
friend of Biblical instruction, of Sabbath observance, and of true
religion, ought to rejoice in the prospect of extending Presby-
terianism. ... I appeal to Scotchmen to uphold the credit of
their country in New Zealand. Presbyterian Scotland had shosvn
that living faith and high principle are yet to be found on the earth
as in former times, when her blood was shed like water, when from
many a bloody scaffold and from many a gallows tree she witnessed
a noble testimony for the truth confirmed and sealed by the blood of
her truest sons and daughters."
The concluding sentiment, as the sequel shows, was
scarcely realised : —
" May glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and
goodwill to men be preached here ; and may truth, peace, and
charity take up their abode within its walls. For my brethren and
companions' sake I will now say peace be ivithin thee."
The bottle deposited under-
neath the stone contained,
among other things, a copy of
the New Zeahmd Evamjelist,
February 1849 ; of the Nehun
Examiner, January 27th 1849 ;
with statistics of settlement ; and
of " The Desolation of Jeru-
salem," by Rev. T. D. Nichol-
son ; and the following now
historic documents, the titles
being ours : —
OFFICE -BEAREES.
"Elders to be elected next month.
Trustees ; — Messrs. D. Sclanders, T.
Renwick (M.D.), W. Rogerson, W. DR. RENWICK.
Wilkie, W. Gardner, Rev. T. D.
A NEW ZEALAND CREED. 101
Nicholson, J. Mackay, G. McRae, R. D. M. Isaac, aud A. Rankin."
MINISTEES OF NEW ZEALAND, 1849.
" The Presbyterian ministers of New Zealand :— Rev. T. D.
Nicholson, Nelson ; Rev. T. Bums, Dunedin, Otago ; Rev. Geo.
Panton, Auckland ; sent out by the Free Church of Scotland. Rev.
John Inglis, Wellington ; Rev. James Duncan, Manawatu ; sent out
by the Reformed Church of Scotland.
A N.Z. CREED.
" The standards of the Church are the Confession of Faith
and the Catechism prepared by the Westminster divines ; and
this Church adheres to the Free Church of Scotland in her primitive
mode of worship, to the testimony of the martyrs who have laid
down their lives in defence of her fundamental principles and for
the preservation of her ancient and her noble constitution. And
may God grant that no apostasy shall ever arise in this Church
from any one doctrine which bears either upon the cross or crown of
the Divine Redeemer."
A CHANGE OF PLANS.
" This building would have been of brick instead of wood if it
had not been for the earthquakes of October, 1848."
The church was to be known as " Trinity Presby-
terian Church, Nelson." In this was shown much
wisdom on the part of Mr. Nicholson and his officebearers,
for which the Presbyterians of Nelson to-day ought to be
thankful. What a pity that in many parts of New Zealand
and the Home country the practice, discontinued at the
Keformation, should be revived of naming churches after
the saints. In these days of rituahsm and Romeward
movement on the part of many, we cannot afford to toy
with strange fire from off the Romish altar. We know, of
course, that those amongst us who name their churches
after some particular saint do not wisli to suggest that it
is under the guardianship of such. But we live in strange
times, and for all we know stranger times may be in store
for us, and we ought to be ever on our guard against
102 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
the enemy having any occasion to speak reproachfully.
Few Churches are so intimately acquainted with the inner
workings of Romanism as the Irish Presbyterian Church,
and what is her invariable practice ? In all her borders
you will not find, perhaps, more than one church with the
name of a saint stuck before it.
The new church was opened on December 28rd
1849, when the edifice was more than comfortably filled,
360 persons being crushed into space provided for 350,
and when £23 of a collection was taken up. Mr. Nicholson
preached in the morning and afternoon, and Rev. Mr.
Ironside, the Wesleyan minister, in the evening. With
the Wesleyan minister he seems to have been on terms of
intimate friendship, often ofiiciating in his church as he
now did in the Presbyterian.
Here Mr. Nicholson, who began his ministry in
Nelson under favourable auspices, usually preached twice
every Sabbath, but often only once, giving the second
and sometimes a third service to such places as Stoke,
Wakapuaka, Richmond, Springrove, or Waimea West.
These places he not unfrequently reached on horseback,
but thought nothing of walking out on foot a distance of
12 miles to hold a service, to administer baptism, or to
pay a sick visit. Long tramps became part of the routine
of his duties, aud had ko be taken with as good a grace as
possible.
How did matters stand in regard to education ?
Mr. Nicholson had not been long in Nelson when the
Colonial Secretary sent him a circular from Wellington,
inquiring what schools were under his direction. He
replies, "I have no love for sectarian schools strictly
speaking, and think the wants of the Nelson community
with regard to the ordinary branches of a common
EDUCATION IN NELSON. 103
education seem to be fully met, but should yet gladly
seek the institution of a school or academy where we
might have taught the higher branches of a classical and
commercial education." This laudable desire to see the
district put into possession of the advantages of a good
education is for a Presbyterian minister a characteristic
one. The Presbyterian Church has always laid great
stress on education, and when, as here, it is conducted on
right lines, cannot lay too much. Mr. M. Campbell, a
Presbyterian, organised the first school in Nelson, and had
the Bible read every day and a Sabbath School conducted
each Lord's Day. After that school merged in the " Nelson
School Society," he continued to be principal spoke in the
educational wheel. The well-equipped schools of this society
had spread all over the district when Mr. Nicholson came.
It is greatly to the credit of these early pioneers of education
in Nelson, and shows how far we have departed from the
good old practices of early times, that in all these schools
the Bible was read daily, and in many cases Sunday
Schools held in connection therewith.
Mr. Nicholson had written in his diary,
" What is this passing scene ?
A peevish April day !
A little sun, a little rain,
And then night sweeps along the plain.
And all things fade away."
Cold April winds began now to blow upon him. There
were divided interests in his congregation, and lack of the
complete harmony he longed to see. A worse trial was
experienced at home. On July 30th 1856 he lost a
prop in the death of his beloved wife, whose "counsel,
love, and fellowship " he had enjoyed for 14 years. He
must have keenly felt the loss sustained by himself and
family when he wrote,
101 niSTOKY OF N.Z. rRESBYTEIlIAN CHUKCH
What is home without a mother?
What are all the joys we meet ?
When her loving voice no longer
Greets the coming of our feet.
Mr. Nicholson now determined to resign his charge
at Nelson, but offered to wait until he saw his successor
appointed.
There is evidence to show that he had some attached
friends in Nelson. A public breakfast on August 4th
1857 was given to hira on the occasion of his leaving for
Blenheim. After refreshments were partaken of, D.
Sclanders, Esq., who occupied the chair, stated the object
of the meeting. He thought they would all agree with
him in saying that- during the nine years Mr. Nicholson
had been in Nelson his zeal, learning, and general
attainments had commanded the respect of all denomina-
tions, and maintained the standing of the Presbyterian
Church. The community, though small, was composed
of nearly all the sects known in Scotland, and he (the
chairman) was of opinion that this was " one of the
reasons why Mr. Nicholson had not met with that entirely
general support which the number of Presbyterians in the
settlement would warrant us to expect." It was a great
trial, he thought, for a man of education to come out
to a small place like Nelson ; but in the midst of all
his diflficulties Mr. Nicholson had rendered service to
the Presbyterian cause, for which they were exceedingly
grateful. Mr. Sclanders then presented Mr. Nicholson
with a well-filled purse of sovereigns.
Mr. Nicholson, in reply, thanked them for the
undeserved gift, and wished them all prosperity as a
congregation. He conceived it to be past conjecture
that the golden age of Nelson had arrived, and exhorted
REV. r. CALDER ARRIVES. 105
them all to give a helping hand to lay well the foundations
of the Colony and transmit to rising generations the
precious trust of their glorious privileges, both sacred and
civil.
The choice of the Free Church Colonial Committee
fell upon the minister of Belhelvie, Scotland, the
Rev. P. Calder. Dr. Bonar, the Convener, urged the
need and the growing importance of Nelson as reasons
for his translation. The congregation sent representatives
to the Presbytery of Aberdeen to oppose. Mr. Calder
himself settled the matter by saying that it had been a
long-cherished wish of his to go to the Colonial fields.
He was released in January 1857, and arrived in New
Zealand in October 6th of the same year. He was
accompanied by his father, mother, and sister. Miss
Calder still resides at Nelson, and occupies the old manse
as tenant. He at once entered with vigour on the
work of the congregation. The ministry of Mr. Calder,
extending as it did over a period of 34 years, reaches too
near our own time to call for much comment. We may
say, however, that he had the reputation of being a
scholarly man, and when he lectured in the days of his
prime had no difficulty in securing a large and appreciative
audience. When the General Assembly met in Nelson in
1867 it paid him the honour of calUng him to the
Moderatorial chair.
A few words are necessary to explain the nature of
the Ralph Turner donation.
In 1863 Mr. Calder reported to the Maori Mission
Committee that a friend of his, Ralph Turner Esq. of
Genia, Nelson, had given £100 for a mission to the Maoris
of the district, and would give an additional hundred as
soon as the Church entered on the work. Coming at the
106 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
time of a disturbance amongst the Natives and from a
district bordering on the scene of the Wairau massacre,
the Convener looked upon the gift as an encouragement
from God for the Church to go forward in prosecuting
with all diligence this important mission work. For
some time the money was banked, and additions being
made to it rpached the sum of £454 before it was
handed over to the Church Property Board for Maori
mission work. What a blessing to a most deserving
mission if many other friends in like manner heard
the Master say, " Wherefore if thine enemy hunger,
feed him ; if he thirst, give him drink ; for in so doing
thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head."
Mr. Nicholson, after leaving Nelson went to the
Wairau Valley. When minister of Nelson he had paid
several visits to the Wairau, and was attracted towards it
as a district that was fertile and beautiful and of growing
importance. In 1857 he came permanently to reside in
it, and took up eventually his residence at Renwicktown.
The Wairau Valley was then in almost its native state.
The population was small and scattered. Blenheim had
little more than a name. That name had a peculiar origin.
The place, it is said, was originally called Beavertown,
because the surveyors, in flood time, had, like the animal
of that name, to take to logs and stumps of trees. When
after separation from Nelson the province was named
Marlborough its principal town was named Blenheim,
after the Duke of Marlborough's famous battle. It
had then only a few houses. In one of these, a store of
the late Mr. Jas. Sinclair, Mr. Nicholson often held
services. He also frequently officiated at a store of Mr. J.
M. Hutcheson's at Grovetown, where a number of men
found employment as sawyers in a large bush, the labourers
MR. NICHOLSON IN WAIIIAU VALLEY.
107
coming often to worship in blue shirts and moleskin
trousers, the usual working attire of that time. Then Mr.
Nicholson roamed at his sweet will over the Awatere
district, distant 25 miles, where large sheep stations
existed. In the opposite direction he made his way
to Picton, and a very dismal way it was. It was a
narrow boggy track, which for many miles followed the
MR. NICHOLSON'S MANSE AT RENWICKTON.
indentations of the hills round the Big Swamp which is
still in existence. This weary road Mr, Nicholson often
tramped on foot in all weathers. Possibly these long and
fatiguing journeys had not a little to do with his final
break-down.
A church had been built for him at Renwick, which
was the first church of any denomination erected in the
108
HISTOEY OF N.Z. PEESBYTEllIAN CHUECH.
Province of Marlborough, the congregation there getting
as usual some assistance from the Nelson Trust Fund.
Part of the original scheme of settlement by the New
Zealand Company was that out of the funds received from
the sale of lands, £50,000 should be set apart for a college,
for steam navigation, and for religious purposes ; but, as
MR. NICHOLSON'S CHURCH AT RENWICKTON.
is well known, the Company was not able to meet its
engagements. The Church suffered with other interests.
The Anglican communion fared best. It received at an
early stage £5000, on the understanding that the same
amount was to be raised by it and invested in the settle-
ment. According to the Ac/son Examiner, however, that
THE NELSON TRUST FUND. 109
Church in 1847 had only raised £1500, and it called upon
the Church to refund the difference. It was intended to
give the Churches £15,000 in all, and when the affairs of
the Company were wound up and local trustees appointed
by Act of Parliament in England various sums were
given to religious bodies for the support of ministers and
the building of churches. After the Home Church dis-
continued its grant Mr. Nicholson received for a number of
years the sum of £150 per annum out of this fund. In
Blenheim we find him complaining that the trustees had
promised him £150 for the building of a church there,
and then handed over £300 for that district to the Bishop
of Nelson to be dealt out by him as he thought fit, and
that the Bishop had condescended to devote £100 towards
the erection of the Blenheim Presbyterian Church. In
support of his claim Mr. Nicholson stated then that be
was only receiving £100 per annum from his people in
the Wairau Valley, and that the congregation had already
expended the sum of £120 on the new church.
In Mr. Nicholson centre more than one historic
interest. Of ministers who came out expressly in
the interests of the settlers, he was the first Presby-
terian minister to preach at Dunedin, the first in
the Wairau, the second at Wellington, and the very
earliest settled Presbyterian minister in Nelson and its
neighbourhood. His labours and strivings, however, were
now to end. He died on July 16th 1864, and was
buried at Picton. In describing his latter end, we cannot
do better than draw upon another quotation of his,
" In such a season of calm weather,
Though seaward far we be,
Our souls have sight of that immortal sea,
Which brought us hither :
Can in a moment travel thither,
And see the children sport upon the shore,
And hear the mighty waters — rolling evermore."
110
HISTOHY OF N.Z. PEESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
According to a recommendation of the General
Assembly, the Presbytery of Auckland at the end of
1862 temporarily released Rev.
David Bruce from his charge
at Auckland, in order that he
might visit certain places named
by the supreme court as urgently
requiring the Church's spiritual
superintendence. Mr. Bruce
entered on this mission in the
beginning of the following year,
and spent two months, visiting
among other regions Takaka,
Golden Bay, Motueka, Waimea,
Picton, and the Wairau and
Awatere Valleys, places scattered
over what came afterwards to bo
known as the Provinces of Nelson
and Marlborough. He carried with him a form of call
ready for signature. When it was signed by a people
desirous of obtaining the services of a minister, it was
sent to the Assembly's Commissioners at Home, with
instructions that as far as possible they were to procure a
minister in that Church to which the majority of the
subscribers in each case belonged.
REV. D. BRUCE.
In response to one of these calls, given at the time
of Mr. Nicholson's failing health. Rev. A. Russell, of
Newburgh, Scotland, came out from the Free Church,
and arrived in October 1864, a short time after the
decease of Wairau's first minister. Mr. Russell had the
pleasure of finding a manse at Blenheim, which had just
been finished, waiting for his reception. There was also
plenty of work in store for him, more than he could well
REV. A. RUSSELL. Ill
overtake. Owing to the discovery of gold in the district,
the population had greatly increased, as his predecessor
always thought it would. He continued, however, to give
such services as he could to Picton, Havelock, the Awatere
Valley, and other places round about. Under his direction
the people of Picton erected a small church, and promised
to raise £100 towards the stipend of a minister.
Mr. Piussell's ministerial career was short. It was
only of four years' duration, but they were years filled
with hard and honest work. A man's life cannot be
measured by periods of time. He had attended the
General Assembly of 1867, which met in Nelson, and had
taken a very active part in its proceedings. Returning
home with fresh zeal for his work, he had the pleasure
of seeing a church at Blenheim carried to completion,
and of opening it on May 24th 1868. This was the first
and last time he preached in it. Diphtheria, then prevalent
in the district, carried him off as one of its victims. Well
may all labourers in the vineyard look upon this event as
a call to increased faithfulness and increased submission
to the will of Him who has said, "Go ye also into the
vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give."
" Else our lives are incomplete,
Standing on those walls of time,
Broken stairways where the feet
Stumble as they seek to climb."
Two other ministers came out to this district as a
result of the blank calls sent Home by the Rev. D. Bruce.
One was the Rev. William Hogg, whose trials and
endurings we refer to in connection wdth Northern
Canterbury, but whose peregrinations often extended into
the Province of Nelson. The other was the Rev. John
Campbell of Helensburgh who arrived at Nelson towards
the end of 1863, in answer to a call from Riwaka, Motueka,
112 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Sec. Regarding hia settlement the Church Extension
Committee reported to the Assembly in October 18G4, as
follows : —
"In obedience to the Assembly's instructions the Convener
proceeded to Nelson in the mouth of March, and aided the Rev-
Patrick Calder, minister of the place, in the ordination of Mr.
Campbell to the work of the ministry among the people to whom he
had been sent, and the Committee are glad to say that the work of
God has since that time prospered well in his hand. Steps have been
taken to erect a church in the priucipal district, Riwaka, upon a site
liberally granted by one of the members of the church, and in the
course of a few weeks the foundation of the fabric will be laid. The
efficiency of Mr. Campbell's labours will doubtless be greatly
increased and the organization of the congregation be more complete,
so soon as minister and people are privileged to occupy their new
church."
Mr. Campbell remained but a brief period in Riwaka.
He was inducted at Lincoln and Prebbleton on February
21st 1866. For nearly two years the charge he vacated
was without a minister, the people being kept together by
Mr. Calder. At the end of that time the Rev. William
Bherriffs was happily settled over them, and among other
districts had assigned to him by the Committee the care of
Takaka " until further arrangements were made."
The Presbytery of Nelson was constituted for the first
time at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Nelson, on January
13th 1869. The members present were, Rev. Patrick
Calder, Nelson ; Rev. William Sherriffs, M.A., Riwaka ;
and Mr. W. Gardiner, representative eider from Nelson
congregation.
The Presbytery now includes the following charges
and ministers : —
NELSON . .
BLENHEIM
RIWAKA . .
PICTON . .
KAIKOURA
REV. J. H. MACKENZIE.
REV. W. 0. ROBB.
Vacant.
REV. R. J. ALLSWORTH.
REV. W. McARA.
FIRST MEETING AT NAPIER. 113
CHAPTER VIII.
DAYS OF YOllE AT HAWKES BAY AND TARANAKI.
Napier— The First Meeting— Rev. P. Barclay Arrives— A New
Church — Taranaki— Troublesome Times— Rev. John Thom—
Rev. R. F. Macnicol — Perseverance Amid Difficulties.
The Hawke's Bay district has an early historic interest.
It was among the first places in New Zealand touched by
Captain Cook in his famous voyage of 1769. Such
names as Cape Kidnappers and Poverty Bay bear modern
testimony to his disappointing experiences. He found the
Natives, with whom the neighbourhood swarmed, hostile,
treacherous, thievish, and intractable, and their country,
which at one point, he alleged, " did not afford a single
article they wanted except a little firewood," an "unfortunate
and inhospitable place." Hawke's Bay then shared in the
stigma attached to the East Coast. One can scarcely realise
this now-a-days as he thinks of the cultured inhabitants of
modern Napier doing honour in the nomenclature of their
city to such groat literary personages as Shakespeare, Milton,
Chaucer, Tennyson, and Browning ; or as he stands on
Prospect Hill with its magnificent villas, gardens, and
trees, and looks out upon a bay that has been compared to
that of Naples, and inland upon the picturesque townships,
well-cultivated farms, and comfortable homesteads that dot
the rich alluvial plain adjoining. This beautiful district,
however, with its ideal climate was once given over to some
of the fiercest Native tribes in New Zealand. Of these
there were at the foundation of the Colony about 12,000
scattered over the Hawke's Bay district. The country round
lU HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
about was the rendezvous of Te Kooti and the scene of a
fearful massacre carried out by him in Poverty Bay as late as
1868. In 1858, when the Presbyterian Church began to take
root, the European population was very small, not more
than 1180 all told. For the most part, however, they were
prosperous and independent. In that year a desire long
entertained by them was fulfilled. The district was
disjoined from Wellington and formed into a separate
province.
The first meeting to establish a Presbyterian cause
was held in the Royal Hotel, Napier, on Saturday, June
9th 1858. It was occasioned by a letter received from
Rev. D. Bruce of Auckland, stating that he had written
home for a minister who should live at Napier and take
charge of all the Presbyterians in the district of Ahuriri, or
Port Napier. The chair was occupied by A. Alexander,
Esq., who came to the district previously to 1852, and was
one of its very earliest and most respected settlers. His
opening remarks were not characterised by a sanguine
tone. He thought that " an apartment for occasional
services was needed," and "a residence for a minister,"
and a horse to carry him hither and thither ; but was of
opinion that owing to the district being thinly populated
and the fact of a comparatively small number taking an
interest in the matter, they should need external assistance.
The following committee was appointed : —
Messrs. Alexander, Gollan, Gray, D. McLean (afterwards Sir D.
McLean), Mun, and Wood, Mr. Mun being treasurer and Mr. Wood
secretary.
Some of these gentlemen gave handsome contributions
towards meeting the expense that would have to be incurred
in starting a new cause in Napier. Mr. D. McLean gave
£20, Mr, D. Gollan £15, and Mr. A. Alexander, a member
REV. P. BARCLAY ARRIVES. 115
of the General Assembly, £10. Shortly afterwards it was
announced that the Colonial Committee of the Free Church
had selected Rev. P. Barclay for Napier and Hawke's Bay,
Professor Lumsden, a member of it, testifying that he had
been his companion at college, and that he was a " good
scholar," an " excellent preacher," an "able man," and a
" splendid horseman," a qualification said to have been
much needed in his Colonial field of labour.
Presbyterians were not so slow in occupying this field
as they were in the case of some others. Their movement
anticipated even that of the English Church. Not a few
of the settlers were Scotchmen of the well-to-do class.
An event of some interest was approaching. A dis-
tinguished minister was on his road to Napier, and due
preparation must be made for his advent. A five-acre lot
was purchased before the end of the year, and a manse
set on foot.
The "White Swan" brought Rev. P. Barclay to
Napier on June 6th 1859. There being no church as
yet, Mr. Barclay held divine service once a day in the
schoolroom at Napier, and once at Clive in the afternoon,
and arranged these services so that they should not clash
with those of Rev. Mr. St. Hill, the Church of England
minister. This was a temporary expedient. The popula-
tion was increasing. In 1860 there were 2800 people in
the district, of whom about 260 were Presbyterians. This
justified the office-bearers in letting a contract for a church,
which was opened on June 16th 1861. A novelty of the
proceedings in clearing off the debt on the church was
that now much-hackneyed method of raising money, a
church bazaar, the articles disposed of being brought out
for the purpose from the Old Country. Since then the
congregation, having passed through many vicissitudes,
116 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
has grown strong and vigorous, and now occupies an
influential position in the town of Napier. Carlyle says
with much truth, " Conviction, be it ever so excellent, is
worthless till it converts itself into conduct." Tried by
this standard the convictions of the people of Napier must
be pronounced of the right sort.
The Presbyterian cause at Taranaki in days of yore,
like the settlement there, had a struggle for existence.
It shared in troubles which had an early beginning and
were of an aggravated kind. In this respect the settlement at
New Plymouth did not differ from the other ventures of the
New Zealand Company. Though it was at first organized
by a joint stock association, called the New Plymouth
Company, after the town of Plymouth in the South of
England, it speedily became amalgamated with the New
Zealand Company's operations. The latter in 1840 sold
the former 10,000 acres of excellent land on the West
Coast, which it professed to have purchased from the
Natives, many of whom at the time, it is said, were held
captives by the Waikato tribes, and did all that it could to
advance the new colonisintj scheme. Help was much
needed. Fate seemed to have determined that the English
city should not have a counterpart in New Zealand. The
country itself had many attractions. Seaward there was
an open roadstead, but landward the region appeared to be
everything that could be desired. Mt. Egmont, capped with
snow, rose in solitary grandeur, and looked down with pride
on a rich open fern country, well watered by its numerous
streams, and seen from afar formed a striking landmark in
a beautiful landscape. The Colonists found the earth there
so kind that they had only to tickle it with a hoe, and it
laughed with a harvest. Mr. Carrington, the Company's
surveyor, was so struck with its charms that he designated
TROUBLESOME TIMES.
117
it in 1841 " the garden of this country," and that name,
endorsed by Governor Hobson, has adhered to it ever
since. It is now known as " the Garden of New Zealand."
How true it is that happiness is not inherent in a place.
As the great dramatist says,
" The mind is in its own place, and in itself
Can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven."
'S^^fp^ '* '^^
VIEW OF MT. EGMONT.
When the district was originally purchased in 1840
from certain Natives, the business was transacted with
great difficulty. Another section of the aborigines refused
to give their consent to the sale, and denied the power of
the others to sell without their concurrence. Fearing a
118 HISTORY OF N.Z. TKESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
breach of the peace the Government stepped in to settle the
dispute, but despite its efforts extending over years, the
Maori difficulty became more threatening. To pacify the
Natives it limited the Colonists to a fraction of the
land they claimed to have purchased. This enraged
the Colonists. Cooped up in a small block of land around
the town of New Plymouth, the migrants took no pains to
show their strong displeasure, so that the breach between
them and the aborigines was widened instead of lessened.
Frequent attempts were made by the Colonists, with the
consent of the Government, to enlarge their borders, and
every essay was met by increased opposition on the part of the
Natives. It was over a block of land at the Waitara that the
Taranaki War in 1860 began, when the first fierce fighting
between the Europeans and the Natives occurred. The
whole district resounded with the clash of arms. British
ships of war hovered off the coast ; 2000 English soldiers
garrisoned the Province, marching and counter-marching
from place to place. New Plymouth itself was in a state
of siege. It was fortified and blockaded. The settlers
living around had been ordered into it, and leaving their
houses to be burnt, their crops to be wasted, and their
flocks and herds to be driven off by the Natives, were
huddled together like sheep in a narrow pen. Disease
broke out, and carried off numerous victims. Many
persons, rather than endure the prolonged agony, removed
to other parts of the Colony or returned Home, having
lost their all. It was near New Plyn.outh, too, in 1864,
that the Hau-Haus, seized with a dangerous fanaticism,
made their first onslaught on the Christians. Previous to
this a common Christianity formed a bond of union more
or less strong between the two races. Now, however,
with Hau-Hauism, and its ally, the King movement,
rampant, the motto was " No quarter for the aliens."
REV. JOHN THOxM. 119
The coming, therefore, of Rev. John Thorn from
Wanganui to reside in New Plymouth and hold services
in various districts of Taranaki, towards the end of the fifties,
was destined to fall on troublesome times. He could not
be expected to accomplish much. There was no settled
charge. He was scarcely adapted for ministering to one.
He seems to have been unable to secure any hearty co-
operation on the part of the unsettled settlers. There are
some men who are more fitted for itinerating than for
regular pastoral work. They are more at home breaking
up new ground and casting in the seed than fencing,
weeding, and patiently nursing the crop into a fruitful
harvest. Mr. Thom was one of these. Coming out under
the auspices of the Colonial Committee of the Free Church
in 1857, he had been to Turakina and then to the Hutt,
and for longer or shorter periods had preached the Gospel
in both those places. He itinerated for about three years
in Taranaki. He visited and preached in Foxton and
Auckland, and finally did good pioneering work across the
sea in New South Wales. He was desirous, howevei-,
before he left to see provision made for occupying the
Taranaki field. So were certain military settlers who at
the time resided in it. Through their representations the
Auckland Presbytery sent Home for a minister to the
Church of Scotland.
In response Rev. R. F. Macnicol, late assistant in the
parish of St. Luke's, Glasgow, arrived with his wife on
November 23rd 1865. He had offered himself for
Colonial service, and intended going to Canada, but,
hearing of the necessities of New Plymouth, crossed two
seas instead of one. The Church of Scotland had not
given any assistance in men or money to the New Zealand
Presbyterian Church up to this time, although she had a
120 HISTORY Oh N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
congregation of her own in Wellington. In this case she
both sent a suitable labourer and guaranteed for a time
one-half of his salary, or £150. A disappointment instead
of a charge awaited Mr. Macnicol in New Plymouth. He
searched in vain for the St. Andrew's congregation, which
he was led to believe eagerly desired a minister. The
explanation was that the Maori war which had been
raging there was over, though trenches and fortifications
still surrounded the city, and settlers feared going far
afield to cultivate the ground. The military had taken
their departure. The Imperial Government had ordered
the withdrawal of five regiments, and left further fighting
to be done by the Colonial forces. Along with them went
the bone and sinew of many a flourishing congregation.
The military settlers, too, had for the most part beaten a
hasty retreat. The few Presbyterians that remained had
lost heavily in the recent war, and were very much dis-
couraged. It was a gloomy outlook, which required
courage to face. The fortitude which rises upon an
obstruction, as the river swells the higher whose course
is stopped, was now equal to the occasion. With the
ocean behind him and duty beckoning him on, Mr.
Macnicol felt like saying,
" Tet I argue not
Against Heaven's hand or will, nor 'bate a jot
Of heart or hope, but still bear up and steer
Right onward."
Above the heaviest cloud a star is shining. A few of the
old settlers rallied round him, attracted by his fervent and
indomitable spirit. Better fortune still was coming. The
Independents had had a minister, but he was gone, and
being satisfied with Mr. Macnicol's services they cast
in their lot with the Presbyterian congregation, and
materially strengthened a cause to which they have
PEESEVERENCE AMID DIFFICULTIES. 121
adhered ever since. Thus encouraged, the Presbyterians
put their shoulders to the building of a church so
vigorously that in nine months after services began it
was opened for worship. It was not large, holding 200
and costing with site £700, but it amply met all the
requirements of the case till it was burned down many
years afterwards. As the settlers regained confidence
they returned to their farms, moving out very gradually
farther and farther from the town, and erecting new
homes for themselves in place of those that war had swept
away. The Presbyterian minister followed them with
services, often at the risk of his life from the Maoris,
especially the Hau-Haus, who had a great dislike to
parsons ; and from the rivers, particularly the Waitara
where he was once nearly drowned. He was naturally
venturesome, but Providence was particularly kind to him
during his ministry of three years and three months in
Taranaki. So were the people by the will of God. They
did everything they could to make his lot happy. That
lot had its advantages as well as its disadvantages. The
very romance of the surrroundings was exhilarating to the
city-bred youth, and gave zest to his service for Christ in
a new land. All through he felt not only that he was
establishing the first congregation in Taranaki, but
helping in some measure to lay the foundation of a great
Colony at the Antipodes. Having accepted a call to St.
James', Auckland, on January 29th 1869, from his
larger sphere of usefulness he looks back with pleasure
upon his ministerial life at New Plymouth, where he
sought on Natives and settlers alike to inculcate the much-
needed truth,
" Cowards are cruel, but the brave
Love mercy and delight to save."
122 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
CHAPTER IX.
EARLY RAYS AT CHRISTCHURCH.
Families of Early Days — Spiritual Destitution — Rev. John Moir
Calls — Under Many Disadvantages — Organization —Established
Church or Free— Oh, for a Clever Minister! — Rev. C. Fraser
Arrives — A Large Parish — The Addington Cemetery — Education.
Though the Canterbury Plains became the site of an
extensive Church of England settlement in the middle of
this century, they were first permanently occupied by
Scotch Presbyterians from Ayrshire, whose representatives
still reside at Eiccarton. One has only to consult the map
of the South Island, published by Keith Johnstone about
1850, to be convinced of this. There Riccarton has " a
habitation and a name," but when it was prepared
Christchurch was not.
Since the beginning of the century a few whalers and
runaway sailors had settled in the Native pas along the
coast or among the bays of this Island, from time to time,
and had taken to themselves Maori wives. They were
ministered unto by missionaries of the Anglican, Wesleyan,
or Roman Catholic Churches. The Plains themselves,
however, remained without inhabitants from the time of
Rauparaha's raid, about the end of the twenties, till the
beginning of the forties, when two attempts were made in
vain by rival Sydney firms to colonise them. The intended
settlers, after a trial, considered them unfit for human
habitation, Mr. Heriot, one of the last, declaring that the
district was " the most God and man forsaken place on the
SPIRITUAL DESTITUTION. 123
face of the earth." All this sounds strange in the ears of
its modern successful inhabitants. It shows what human
skill and perseverance can do to make an uninviting
country habitable. It was three years after this, or in the
beginning of 1843, seven and a half years prior to the
arrival of the Canterbury Church of England settlers, that
the late Messrs. WilHam and John Deans, brothers, came
from Wellington to take vip their residence at Riccarton,
which they named after their native parish in Ayrshire.
The name of the river that gracefully flows under hanging
willows and traffic bridges, and forms so attractive a
feature of Christchurch, also bears testimony to their
early occupation. Its native designation when they came
and estabhshed themselves on its banks was Putare
Kamutu. This they altered to Avon, calling it after the
Avon in Lanarkshire, which formed one of the boundaries
of their grandfather's property, on its way to join the Clyde,
and was a stream in which they had fished when boys.
The naming of this river, therefore, had no connection,
as some suppose, with the English Avon of Stratford, the
birthplace of Shakespeare, or with the coming of the
" Canterbury Pilgrims." The Deans brothers were not alone.
They brought with them from Wellington John Gebbie, wife,
and children, and Samuel Manson, wife, and children ; in
all six adults and six children. Here the men, leaving the
women and children at Port Levy for a time, pitched their
tent, and erected the first house that was built on the
Plains. It was constructed of wood, put together with
wooden pegs, and though the winter was cold and the
openings numerous, the whole of the little colony managed
to find shelter in it, by battening the joints, and by
partitioning it off into three apartments with blankets and
sheets. This interesting old house stood till 1890, when,
being unsafe, it was taken down.
124 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The Riccarton household has been given to hospitality
from an early date. Mr. William Deans had the privilege
of welcoming the immigrants of " the four ships," and of
supplying them with timber to build their dwellings.
Two other houses at Riccarton were erected immediately
after the first, in 1843-4, Manson being chief carpenter.
They are still standing. When the little community was
diminished by the withdrawal of the Gebbies and Mansons
to the head of Lyttelton Bay, William Todd, with his wife
and children, came to occupy their place, and maintain
the efficiency of the establishment. Here Sir George Grey
and Lady Grey were entertained in 1849, and many
humbler guests before and since.
" True friendship's laws are by this rule exprest,
Welcome the coming, speed the parting guest."
Here the Deans brothers leased the first land from the
Natives, whom they found most friendly, planted the first
oak trees, built the first bridges, and took the first
permanent possession of the Plains. About a month after
the arrival of the Deans, Mr. Ebenezer Hay and family,
and Mr. Sinclair and family settled at Pigeon Bay.
These were all Presbyterians, and for seven and a half
years were without ordinances provided by their own
Church, being dependent for spiritual ministrations on
occasional visits from Bishop Selwyn and the Roman
Catholic priest who ministered to the French settlers in
the Peninsula. The famine of the severe winter of 1846,
when they were all on the point of starvation till relieved
from Wellington, was a true symbol of the unappeased
hunger of their souls. When the Free Church settlement
was first spoken of, these families all hoped that this might
be the site chosen for it, but when the scarcity of timber
induced the surveyors to decide in favour of Otago, there
REV. JOHN MOIR. 125
was bitter disappointment among the settlers dwelling
around Port Levy. No wonder. They were leading an
isolated and lonely life at their several homes, and the Otago
settlers were their own countrymen, who were bringing
with them their own minister and schoolmaster. Even
for some years after the Canterbury Pilgrims arrived, there
was no minister of the Church of their fathers to baptise
their children, bury their dead, or administer to them
or the Presbyterians who had arrived with the new comers
the other ordinances of religion. Many evils resulted,
connected both with the living and the dead. The young
Hansons and Gebbies, never seeing a Presbyterian service,
grew up to be Protestant Episcopalians, and were lost to
the Church of their fathers. A child, in days of no
minister, died and was buried unbaptised. When the
surveyors came to lay off the ground for a cemetery at
Christchurch, they proceeded to exclude the little grave
of the infant that had done neither good nor evil, and
about whom the thoughts of father and mother were,
" Early bright, transient, chaste, as morning dew,
She sparkled, was exhaled, and went to heaven.''
We can guess the feelings of relatives and friends. It was
only when Mr. William Deans strongly remonstrated that
the design was not carried out. Can a man be saved
without baptism? was then the question of the hour.
This was not marvellous in a settlement that originated in
the time of a High Church revival in England, when Dr.
Pusey succeeded the Kev. John Henry Newman in the
leadership of the Oxford Tractarian or Medieval movement,
and a large number proceeded to New Zealand to found a
Church on congenial and independent lines.
The calling in at Lyttelton of the Rev. John Moir on
his way to Wellington, in October, 1853, was a welcome
126 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
break on their spiritual destitution. With much sympathy
he crossed the hills one Saturday evening, and on the
following Sabbath officiated and baptised several children
who needed no parental arms to bear them up. They were
able themselves to walk forward and submit themselves to
the sacred rite. After this much-appreciated visit of Mr.
Moir, the desire on the part of the Presbyterians for the
services of a minister of their own Church, always strong,
grew more intense. In founding such a Church they had,
of course, to labour under many disadvantages. The force
of some of these are felt to this day. Their numbers and
resources were not great, while their ecclesiastical
neighbours in these respects were very strong. One of the
most important features of the Canterbury Association
was, that of every £3 obtained by the sale of lands to the
settlers, £1 should be reserved for " the establishment and
endowment of ecclesiastical and educational institutions in
connection with the Church of England." The consequence
is that to-day Christchurch is one of the richest dioceses
in New Zealand. According to a report submitted to the
Synod a few years ago, the annual income from endowments,
bishopric and general, was £4735, or a sum larger than
the entire stipend paid annually to the twenty ministers
who are at present in the Christchurch Presbytery. We
have no reason to believe, however^ that if possessed by
the New Zealand Presbyterian Church it would be used to
augment the income of the clergy. The sister Presbyterian
Church of Otago and Southland has employed her
endowment similarly acquired to build and repair churches
and manses, and endow three professorial chairs, to the
advantages of which the general public are admitted.
This is in keeping with the Catholic spirit that has always
characterised the Presbyterian Church. In spite, however,
of the overshadowing influence exercised by a sister
ORGANIZATION.
127
communion, the Presbyterian Church of North Canterbury
has felt from the beginning that she had a work to do
for her Master in this district. And as she braced herself
for it, her song has been :
" And the night shall be filled with music,
And the cares that infest the day
Shall fold their tents like the Arabs,
And as silently steal away."
At last the longings of the Presbyterians, stimulated
by wholesome ecclesiastical rivalry, and guided by the wise
counsel of Mr. Moir, took definite shape.
Organization now began. Four years after the
Canterbury P i Ig r i m s
landed at Lyttelton, or
in January 1854, the
first movement was
made towards inaugu-
rating in this district
a Presbyterian Church.
A public meeting of the
residents favourable to
the project was called,
and was largely
attended. Mr. W. K.
MacDonald of Orari,
well known in connec-
tion with the Geraldine
congregation, presided.
The late Mr. John
Deans, who was in the
neighbourhood so many
years before the Canter-
bury settlement took place, was unable to be present, but
MR. J. DEANS, JUN.
128 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
wrote offering not only a liberal contribution of £100 for
the building of a church, but an annual sum towards
the stipend of the minister. This yearly contribution
to the maintenance fund has been increased by his son,
Mr. John Deans, jun., who is an elder of the congrega-
tion at present, and who, with his mother, Mrs. Deans,
has been one of the best friends and most liberal supporters
of the Church. It was also announced that as the
Presbyterians had liberally helped other denominations
in the building of their churches, so other denominations
were most willing to help the Presbyterians in return.
Encouraged by promises of support from various
quarters the meeting passed resolutions affirming the need
for Presbyterian ordinances, and appointing a committee
to select a site for a church, and prepare a suitable design.
Learning that the Provincial Government was granting
free sites for places of worship and education, the
committee applied to it, and obtained a grant of three acres
close to the junction of Lincoln Road and Hagley Pari<,
on which to erect a church, manse, and school. The
application for this site was warmly advocated by the late
Mr. W. G. Brittan, Commissioner of Crown Lands, who
was kind enough to say that " the Presbyterians were a
respectable body of people." Here building operations soon
began, all transactions of the embryo congregation
being conducted in a most business-like way. The minutes
kept by the Secretary, Mr. W. Wilson, are a model of
painstaking care, and in matters of detail remind us in
their small way of nothing so much as Boswell's Life of
Dr. Johnson.
The question as to whether they should apply for a
minister to the Free or to the Established Church of Scotland
WANTED— A CLEVER MINISTER! 129
was quickly disposed of at a public meeting called chiefly
for that purpose. The Secretary, Mr. Wilson, very adroitly
argued that they were not liliely to be troubled with either
patronage or endowment in this Colony, and that from
whichever Church they got their minister he would have
to be supported on the Free Church principle of
voluntaryism. For this reason he moved, and carried by
an overwhelming majority, that they make application to
the Free Church of Scotland.
The letter written to the Colonial Committee of the
Free Church on July 27th 1854 sets forth that " the
Presbyterian population of the settlement, according to
the Government census very recently taken, amounts to
324 individuals, with the certainty of a rapid increase
both from Scotland and from Australia," and offers an
** extended field of usefulness," and that the people
" guarantee a stipend of £200 a year." The ministerial
qualifications formulated in this document seem to have
puzzled the good Kev. John Bonar, who was then Convener
of the Colonial Committee :
" It has been the repeated and strongly expressed desire of
almost every Presbyterian in the settlement, that none but a really
clever minister should be sent ; one who is not only fluent in speech,
and a good extempore preacher, but capable, should it seem desirable,
of giving an occasional week-evening lecture on astronomy, geology,
natural history, or other secular subject of popular and instructive
interest."
One cannot help seeing in this desire for a clever
extempore preacher the spirit of sturdy independence and
love of truth for which Presbyterians, and especially
Scotch Presbyterians, have ever been distinguished. They
think for themselves. They take an intelligent interest in
all that is going on in their own Church, and in the world
around. More than any other denomination, the Anglicans
130 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
with their enormous endowments not excepted, have they
advanced in this, as in other Colonies, the cause of primary,
secondary, and university education.
Mr. W. P. Reeves, Agent-General of New Zealand,
and late Minister of Education in this Colony, ought to
have a good knowledge of this country, yet in " The Story
of New Zealand," just published by him, he says : —
"The Scotch, in proportion to their numbers, are more prominent
than any other race in politics, commerce, finance, sheep farming,
and the work of education."
This is no small praise in a Colony in which, as he
points out in the same connection, " the intellectual
average " is higher than at Home. The fact that here and
there are to be found ministers of brilliant intellectual
gifts, who fail for want of consecrating grace, is no
argument against the gifts themselves. There must be
something to consecrate. All along the line of our history
the cry of our people has been "give us an educated
ministry, to whom we can look up, and who will be abreast
of the age." It will be an evil day for the Church when,
through the exigencies of Church life, or from any other
cause, that cry shall be ignored. The motto which Adam
Clarke recommended ministers to adopt was: "study
yourself to death, and then pray yourself alive again."
Wesley must have felt the need of study, for in his
" Journal and Letters " he says, " I know that if I myself
had to preach one whole year in one place, I should preach
both myself and most of my congregation asleep,"
Emerson puts the matter in a nutshell when he says, " If
you would lift me up you must be on higher ground."
About this time Dr. Burns, of Dunedin, wrote
announcing the erection of " the Presbytery of the Church
REV. CHARLES ERASER ARRIVES. 131
of Otago," and enclosing a copy of the Acts of that
Presbytery, for the benefit of the Presbyterians of
Canterbury. The Kev. Mr. Moir of Wellington also sent
a letter, offering his counsel and his congratulations. The
encouragement given by both was ixiuch appreciated. It
was needed. Of the 924 persons living in 183 houses in
Christchurch, and the 548 living in 109 houses in Lyttelton,
the vast majority, of course, belonged to the Anglican
Church.
In due time a letter was received from the Convener
of the Colonial Committee of the Free Church, intimating
that, after much searching to find a minister answering
the requirements specified, the Committee had selected the
Rev. Charles Fraser. This minister, it went on to say, was
a young man of superior talents and acquirements, a man
of scientific attainments, who had "a good deal of experience
in the ministry," could speak and even preach in French,
was bringing out with him " the necessary philosophical
apparatus" for giving lectures, and that he was deeply
sensible that, however important other inquiries were,
" nothing compared with the great question, ' What shall
we do to be saved ? ' "
The Convener evidently half suspected that his New
Zealand correspondents might be losing sight of " the one
thing needful," and thought it advisable to point out to
them that the great end of the Christian ministry is to
unfold the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Mr. and Mrs. Fraser arrived at Christchurch early in
April 1856, the year in which the Victoria Cross was insti-
tuted as a reward for valour displayed in the Crimean
War, to do battle for the cross of Christ in New Zealand,
taking up their residence for a time with Mrs. Deans.
132 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Their advent is thus roferrecl to in tho Canterlnirij SUoulanl,
which died some years afterwards : —
" The Rev. Charles Fraser, of
Miuischal College, Aberdeen . . .
l£mded on Sunday morning last from
tlie ship " Oriental," and immediately
afterwards preached to a very fine
congregation in the Wesleyan Church,
Lyttelton, and on Sunday next will
preach both morning and evening
in the Chapel, Christchurch. We
understand that the Wesleyan s have
generously granted to the Presbyterians
the use of each of their chapels in
Lyttelton and Christchurch, until such
time as their own church, a largo and
handsome building now in course of
erection, shall be sufficiently advanced
to be available for public worship.
c
\
REY C. FRASER.
Mr. Fraser's first sermon in New Zealand was preached
in Lyttelton, from a suitable text : " This is a faithful
saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus
came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief
(1 Tim. i., 15). On every anniversary of his ministry ho
made it a habit to preach from this same text, and to note
whatever special events had happened in the congregational
life during the year.
The Presbyterians of Christchurch seemed now to
be greatly elated over the realization of their hopes.
They had already formed a good opinion of their minister.
The ladies had presented him with a pulpit gown and a
Bible, and this gift was followed, some years afterwards,
by a purse of sovereigns and a silver inkstand. Sub-
scriptions for the edifice that was to be the first Presby-
terian Church in Canterbury poured in fast.
A LMIGE PARISH. 133
The new church, which was to cost £900, was opened
in February 1857, when, we are told, the Rev. Charles
Fraser M.A. preached an impressive and appropriate
sermon from the text, "Holiness becometh Thine house,
Lord for ever." A splendid motto for a church ! Alas
that so many obstacles should stand in the way of its fall
realization ! At the close of the sermon he read notifica-
tions of his ordination by the Presbytery of Aberdeen,
together with other documents connected with his appoint-
ment to Canterbury. This obviated the necessity for any
local ceremony. The Christchurch Presbyterian com-
munity was simply treated as a mission charge of the
Home Church. A baptism followed, the child receiving
the Christian name of Charles Fraser, in accordance with a
Scotch custom of showing personal regard for a minister by
giving his name to the first child baptised in the new church.
The collection taken up on the occasion was as volun-
tary and as successful as Dr. Welsh, or Dr. Chalmers him-
self could have wished. At either side of the entrance
porch a plate, covered with a white cloth, was placed for
the people to drop in their contributions as they passed.
The sum realised was £74 8s 6d. No collection approach-
ing it had ever been made in Christchurch.
That day there was a good muster of the Presbyterians
of the district. Out of a population of 6000 all told in
this English Church settlement there were 304 persons
present in the morning, and 210 in the evening. It being,
however, a special occasion, many of them came from
considerable distances in the country around. We have
no reason to believe that those pastoralists and others by
their givings on this occasion hurt themselves in the
smallest degree, though trade and agriculture were both in
their initiatary stage. The Millennium will be upon us in
134 HISTOKY OF N.Z. PRESBYTEEIAN CHURCH.
all its glory when a church membership shall arise that,
instead of calculating what it can contribute without
discredit, or with some degree of human approbation,
shall be moved by the all-abounding goodness of God, and.
Give as the morning that flows out of heaven,
Give as the waves when their channel is riven.
Give as the free air and sunshine are given —
Lavishly, utterly, carelessly give.
Mr. Fraser called the new church St. Andrew's, after
the patron saint of Scotland, whatever that means. At
this juncture the church in the Anglican communion
known as St. Luke's, had not been erected, and as for the
Cathedral, its foundation was not laid for seven years
afterwards.
The origin of the Addington Cemetery shows that
minister and people were not backward in preserving their
principles and rights. A little independence was needed
in those days. The Government had provided separate
burial grounds for Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and
" Dissenters," but the Presbyterians had objections
against enrolling themselves in any of these classes. For
a time they were permitted to use the Church of England
Cemetery, but when it came to be consecrated by a Bishop
the practice of interment there with a Presbyterian burial
service was disallowed. In 1858 St. Andrew's congrega-
tion decided to procure a piece of ground, of five acres,
known as the " Addington Cemetery." Getting possession
of it afterwards, they declined to follow the example set
them, and generously threw it open to all who should pay
the required fees. Mr. George M'llraith, brother of Mrs.
Deans sen., who was killed by a fall from a horse, was the
first to be interred here. The graveyard was vested in
trustees, and is still under the care of St. Andrew's
congregation.
THE ADDINGTON CEMETERY. 135
The Cemetery Trust Deed required the appointment
of deacons. These were selected on July 27th 1858, and
were as follow : — Messrs. John Anderson, Douglas Graham,
W. Wilson, Thomas Anderson, and George Duncan.
The next few years were years of progress. The
manse in which Mr. Fraser was to show such unbounded
hospitality was erected in 1859, and the church, grown too
small for the congregation, was enlarged soon afterwards.
A large parish was assigned to the Rev. Mr. Fraser,
Christchurch was then looked upon as the centre of
a wide area over which Presbyterians were sparsely scat-
tered, having Kaiapoi on the one side and the Peninsula
and Lyttelton on the other. The intention was that the
minister of the City should hold a service every Sabbath
evening at Lyttelton, and this programme was carried out
for several years, but not for long. There were too many
other demands upon Mr. Fraser's time. The district over
which he had superintendence really extended from the
Hurunui to the Waitaki, and from the snowy mountains to
the sea, including the Peninsula. It embraced the entire
Province of Canterbury, had a seaboard of 200 miles, a
breadth of 150, and an area of 13,000 square miles. Here
was surely ample room for man and horse. This entailed
many a long journey, and though the country was thinly
populated and unopened, Mr. Fraser, who was often accom-
panied by Mrs. Fraser, enjoyed these long rides. He was
happy on land, but like a fish out of water at sea.
Susceptibility to vial de mer greatly interfered with his
attendance at the Assemblies held in Wellington and
Auckland, and his usefulness outside his own district.
Another drawback to his usefulness, especially in country
districts, was his dishke to the cries of children, whom
mothers were in the habit of bringing to service in their
136 HISTOllY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
arms. He could never stand this, and must pause until
the disturbance came to an end, even though the per-
plexed mother should have to leave.
Some of Mr. Fraser's sermons were so impressive that
many of his congregation had a desire to see them pub-
lished. His lectures on such topics as Hebrews and the
Shorter Catechism, and his expositions of Scripture, wore
much appreciated by both old and young.
Education in the Presbyterian camp, as we might
have expected from Mr. Fraser's own attainments, received
a good deal of attention. An Act passed by the Provincial
Government granted subsidies to the different denomina-
tions for educational purposes. Each Church, therefore,
provided its own schoolmasters and conducted its own
schools in its own way. Mr. Eraser and his friends took
large advantage of this Act. A schoolroom was erected at
Christchurch, the school held in it being called at first the
Academy. Others were built in the Peninsula, at Lyttelton,
Kaiapoi, Lincoln, and other places. A dozen of schools
came to be estabhshed, for which £15,000 was drawn out
of the public purse. Many of the schoolmasters were
brought out direct from Scotland in the same way as the
Church received its ministers. The connection between
education and religion was on this occasion unusually
close. The schoolhouses in the various districts served
for churches, and the schoolmasters often served for
Sabbath School teachers and preachers. In this way the
nucleus of many a congregation was formed and many
a charge had its origin.
Not content with these efforts to promote the interests
of primary education, Mr. Eraser set his heart upon having
a High School in Christchurch. Circumstances seemed to
EDUCATION. 137
indicate a need for this. Many thought the teaching of
the College too classical for the majority of the boys of
those days, and scarcely suited to the requirements of the
commercial world, for which a large number wished to fit
themselves. The numerous saints' days that had to be
observed in connection with it was to them also objection-
able. A building with three class-rooms was secured on
the Lincoln road, where the West Borough School now
stands. The High School had for a time a successful
career under its several masters, Messrs Scott and Cook,
and Revs, Campbell and Cumming, &c. It had a large
boarding establishment connected with it, and drew pupils
from even the North Island and Otago. Dr. Lillie of
Tasmania, to whose memory a marble tablet has been
erected in St. Andrew's ; the Rev. John Gow of Lyttelton ;
the Rev. W. Kirton of Kaiapoi, and others supported it by
giving it their influence and by sending their sons. It
possessed, however, no endowments, and came to have a
struggle for existence during its last few years. To save
the institution Mr. Fraser voluntarily and gratuitously
took the higher classes for years, but in 1874 the school
had to be reluctantly given up, and the building sold.
During its existence it did good work, and the success of
the present High School, afterwards founded under more
favourable auspices, shows that such a school was much
needed. Mr. Fraser was fond of children, though he had
none of his own, and felt much at home in instructing them.
It shows the high esteem in which his teaching ability was
held that Mr. Tancrcd, the Chancellor of the University,
once invited him to take his place and deliver an address
to the students. He had a hand also in obtaining for the
sons of small farmers easier access to the Agricultural
College at Lincoln. All this is highly praiseworthy.
Christianity, as Amiel says, is " salvation by the conver-
138 HISTOEY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
sion of the will, humanism by the enlightenment of the
mind." Its highest development is reached only when
the ideal of Tennyson is realised: —
'' Clear and bright it should be ever,
Flowing like a crystal river,
Bright as light and clear as wind."
CHUECH EXTENSION IN EAELY DAYS. 139
CHAPTER X.
THE DAWN IN NORTH CANTERBURY.
Church Extension in Early Days— Banks Peninsula— St. Paul's—
Kaiapoi— Lyttelton -Amuri-Prebbleton— First Meeting of the
Canterbury Presbytery— Rev. W. Hogg's Race Against Time.
St. Andrew's Church was twice enlarged in the time ot
Mr. Fraser, and, what is rather remarkable, after each
enlargement there was a hiving off of members to form
a new congregation. First there was St. Paul's, and then
at a later period there were, about the same time,
Sydenham and North Belt. In addition to this there
was growth all over the district.
In the matter of Church Extension, Mr. Fraser did
for Canterbury much the same sort of work that Mr.
Bruce did for Auckland and the North Island. The people
of St. Andrew's liberally assisted and encouraged him
in his missionary labours. Of course, it was to the
advantage of both him and them that the Province of
Canterbury, which had been assigned to its first minister
for a parish, should be broken up, and the latter left more
time to devote to his pastoral work proper ; but apart from
that there was on all sides a genuine desire to extend the
Kingdom of Christ. The formation of a second congre-
gation in the city added increased stimulus to the rivalry
of the Presbyterians in securing for their countrymen and
co-religionists everywhere round about the blessings of the
Gospel.
140 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The plan at the beginning usually pursued was to stir
up the Presbyterians of each district to contribute the
money necessary for the building of a schoolhouso, the
Provincial Government granting pound for pound and a
subsidy afterwards in aid of the teachers ; and tlien to
send Home to the Convener of the Colonial Committee of
the Free Church for a suitable teacher, whose outfit was
generally provided on the other side of the globe. This
teacher was expected to give religious as well as secular
instruction during the week, organise a Sunday School,
hold an occasional service on the Lord's Day, and as far
as possible meet both the educational and spiritual
wants of the neighbourhood. It was an attempt to realise
John Knox's idea of a church and school for every parish.
Many of these teachers did not fulfil the expectations
formed regarding them, but they and the primitive
buildings in which they laboured prepared the way for
better things. In this manner most of the congregations
that were organized in and around Christchurch in early
days came into existence.
When the Canterbury Church Extension Association
came afterwards to be formed in the beginning of the
seventies, it did noble work in supplying ordinances in
neglected districts, in organising new congregations, and
in aiding them with men and money until they became
self-sustaining charges.
One of the earliest settlers in the Peninsula district
was Mr. Ebenezer Hay. Arriving in Wellington by the
"Bengal Merchant" in 1840, and finding no suitable land
in that neighbourhood, he soon determined to go south and
seek a homo. After a journey of exploration, he finally
set out in 1843, and reached the Peninsula about a
month after Mr. William Deans came to the Plains ;
BANKS PENINSULA.
141
and with Captain Sinclair and his family, who were
also Scotch Presbyterians, he settled at Pigeon Bay.
The only inhabitants
of the Peninsula then
were the Maoris, a few
French settlers, and
the sailors of a couple
of whaling stations.
They had many trials.
The education of the
children was one of
their greatest diffi-
culties. Tutors, seven
years after their
arrival, were obtained
from the Christchurch
settlement. These
proved unsatisfactory,
and Mr. Hay sent
home to Scotland for
a teacher. In response
Mr. Gillespie, junr.,
came out. He was
son of the old pioneer of the same name, whose
interest in the Presbyterian Church, of which he was an
elder for 20 years, was so deep, whose piety was so
genuine, and whose name and memory are still so green
in the district. The teacher was himself a man of
splendid character, and during his short life of two years
endeared himself to both parents and children. He and
his successor, Mr. Fitzgerald, now Inspector of Schools,
Dunedin, and Mr. W. Stewart, a farmer of the district,
used to conduct frequent services at Pigeon Bay. When
Mr. Fraser got settled in Christchurch, ho occasionally
MR. E. HAY.
142 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
went down and visited the Peninsula. The region, bow-
ever, was not easy of access. The only means of transit
to and from Lyttelton in those days was by a whale-
boat, and the city minister had, we have seen, no liking for
the sea under any circumstances. Besides, his time was
more than occupied elsewhere. Still he found his way
down once in a while. His first services were held in
1857 in the house of Mrs. E.
Brown. Mrs. Brown had been
a resident of the district for
thirteen years, and is still living
on the Peninsula. During her
long life she has conferred many
benefits on the Presbyterian
Church, starting a Sabbath
School, collecting Church funds,
and throwing her house open to
its ministers. On this occasion
she took down the middle wall mrs. brown.
of partition to make room for
the worshippers, and Mr. Fraser
preached in English in the morning and in French in the
evening.
At length there came to be so many Scotch Presby-
terian settlers in and around Pigeon Bay, that they found
by joining forces with Akaroa and Duvauchelles Bay they
could afford to send Home for a minister, and supply a
long-felt want. So Mr. Hay advanced £100 to pay hia
travelling expenses, and Dr. Bonar, the Convener of the
Free Church Colonial Committee, selected and sent out
Rev. George Grant. Mr Grant with his young wife
arrived in 1862, and proved himself a faithful pastor and
a most acceptable preacher. Ho soon made many warm
ST. PAUL'S, CHRISTCHURCH. 143
and attached friends on the Peninsula. It was to these
latter a great grievance and a breach of the Ninth Com-
mandment, if not the eighth, when the people of St.
Paul's wiled liim away to Christchurch in 1861, and left
them without a minister for several years. Mr. Hay took
it somewhat more philosophically than the others. He
remarked that they had need of him in Christchurch.
" How hardly man the lesson learns,
To smile and bless the hand that spurns :
To see the blow, to feel the pain,
And render only love again."
The city having extended itself, a number of those
connected with St. Andrew's determined to establish a
second congregation. The knowledge that an excellent
minister laboured in the Peninsula, who might not despise
the attractions of a city charge, had something to do with
the forming of this resolution. At a meeting held in
1864 a call to Rev. George Grant, of Akaroa, was made
out. They were not disappointed. He accepted the
invitation, and was inducted in the Town Hall, High
street, on April 20th 1864. The next step was to appoint
suitable office-bearers to co-operate with the minister in
the government and discipline of the congregation. The
organisers of the new charge believed in having the offices
of the Church filled, and filled by men who were
something more than figure-beads. Accordingly, early in
January 1865, the following office-bearers were elected : —
Elders : J. Gillespie, W. Gavan, J. D. McPherson, A.
Rhind, and W. Henderson ; Deacons : W. Wilson, D.
Mackay, J. C. Angus, A. Richie, and T. Anderson. A
church was a more difficult undertaking ; yet that, too,
soon followed. The Town Hall, which stood where
Messrs. W. Strange & Co.'s premises now stand, was
engaged until a church was built. What is now known
144 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIA.N CHURCH.
as Old St. Paul's, and used for a Sabbath School and other
meetings, was opened in May 1867. It cost about £1000.
The architect was Mr. S. C. Farr, a mcaiber of the
congregation and subsequently a member of Session, who
designed the Presbyterian churches at Lyttelton, Kaiapoi,
Papanui, Leeston, and North Belt, the present church of
St. Paul's, and others. Unlike the second edifice, the
first church of St. Paul's was opened almost free of debt.
Mr. Grant proved himself to be a man of deep piety
and mature scholarship, and left a stamp of evangelicalism
on St. Paul's congregation which it has never lost. His
pastorate, however, was very short. Transference from the
Peninsula with its boundless, fragrant, fresh scenery, the
home of many sweet-voiced birds, its exhilarating air and
its secluded picturesque bays, to the whirl and excitement
of a city charge, hardly suited his quiet, reserved disposi-
tion and his somewhat feeble health. In December, 1868,
he resigned, and shortly afterwards left with his family in
the ill-fated ship " Matoaka." The vessel was never heard
of. It is supposed that she foundered through collision
with one of the icebergs which at the time were seen in
large numbers drifting across the Southern seas. How
true what Young says : —
" Faith builds a bridge across the gulf of death
To break the shock blind nature cannot shun,
And lands thought smoothly on the farther shore."
Kaiapoi is one of the oldest townships in Canterbury.
It had become so populous in 1857 that it was exalted
to the dignity of a township. At one time it was
considered to have more people than Lyttelton, and to
be possessed of a harbour that, for convenience and safety,
was only second to that of its great rival. In accordance
with the usual plan, a modest building for the use of both
KAIAPOI— LYTTELTON. 145
church and school was erected by the Presbyterians in
1860, Mr. Somerset being the first teacher. Here Mr.
Fraser and others officiated occasionally. Evidently the
religious requirements of the place were not met either
locally or from Christchurch, for in the following year we
find a list of subscribers living in Kangiora and Kaiapoi,
and districts round about, made out with the view of
obtaining a minister, and holding out the hope of being
able to afford a stipend of £260. Relying on this, the
Kev. W. Kirton, whose position was not very comfortable
in Wellington, and who had already become acquainted
with a lady in Kaiapoi — Miss Mary Blackett — who was to
be his second wife, wrote the local secretary in February,
1863, accepting the call. Shortly afterwards he put in an
appearance, and settled down as minister of Kaiapoi. The
hopes of pecuniary support held out to him were never
realised. During the eight years of his ministry in the
place he only received the sum of £603, or at the rate of
£75 per year. The original subscribers were too far scat-
tered to give much coherency or strength to the congrega-
tion. As a matter of fact, not more than twenty of them lived
in and around Kaiapoi itself. Once we find the Presby-
tery, at his request, intervening on his behalf, but with little
fruit. They seem, however, to have provided him with a
ministerial residence to shelter him in the second year of
his pastorate. Doubtless there was more than one cause
for this parsimony, which necessitated that the minister
of Kaiapoi in those days should be " contented wi' little an'
cantie wi' mair."
Mr. Fraser soon ceased scaling the Lyttelton Hills
to hold a service every Sabbath evening at the Port.
Christchurch was rapidly growing in extent and import-
ance, and many other places had urgent claims on his
14G HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
attention. Besides, there was every prospect of Lyttelton
becoming at an early date a flourishing independent
charge. A schoolhouse was erected in 1859, and Mr J.
D. Ferguson arrived from Scotland the following year to
be a catechist, teacher, and preacher. His salary was
made up of ^650 out of the Government grant, £50 from
local Presbyterians for religious purposes, and all the
school fees, or about £216 in all per year. This school
was known as Lyttelton High School in connection with
the Presbyterian Church. The same building and the
same Committee served for both church and school. This
old edifice is still standing, being used for a Sunday
school. At first the Sabbath services were held fort-
nightly, but in the beginning of 1862 we find weekly
religious services and a Sunday School in full swing.
Mr. Ferguson was a most acceptable preacher, and did
yeoman service in officiating at Lincoln, Christchurch,
Kaiapoi, Akaroa, or wherever needed. He gathered a
good congregation at Lyttelton. His idea was to enter
the ministry of the Presbyterian Church, and, perhaps,
bocome pastor of Lyttelton congregation. With that
object in view he prosecuted his studies under the direc-
tion, first of Otago Presbytery, and then of Canterbury
Presbytery. From the latter Court he received his license
in 1866, being the first student licensed by that Presbytery.
An attempt was made to call Mr Ferguson at Lyttelton,
but, for reasons unconnected with his ministerial gifts, it
was opposed, and was unsuccessful. To smooth matters
over, Mr. Fyfe brought to the meeting of Presbytery a
memorial, signed by 76 persons willing to accept of Mr.
Ferguson as minister of Lyttelton ; but those present
learning from Mr. Fraser, during the proceedings, that
Rev. John Gow, another minister from Scotland, was ex-
pected every day, only 24 members and 82 adherents voted
AMURI. 147
for Mr. Ferguson, while 22 members and 23 adherents
voted against him. Under the circumstances, the Pres-
bytery decHned to proceed with the settlement. As all
who had votes seems to have polled on the occasion, we
learn that there were at that time about 46 members and
56 adherents in the Lyttelton congregation.
The Amuri district originally extended from Kaiapoi to
the Clarence River, and from the Spencer Range to the sea.
The first minister who laboured in
it was the Rev. W. Hogg, formerly .,_^ •
of Bally-James-Duff, Ireland. He
arrived on December 8th 1863,
with his wife and seven children,
whose education and maintenance
was at the time, he confesses, a
source of anxiety to him. He was
designed for Kaiapoi, but learning
that the vacancy there was filled,
and that the General Assembly
had appointed him to Amuri, he ^e^* *• hogg.
proceeded to that unbroken field of
labour. His heart sank within him when he saw the
everlasting tussock and the fierce unbridged rivers of a
district as large as Antrim and Down, and learned from a
settler that he " never heard his neighbour's cock crow,
or his neighbour's dog bark," and that the other settlers
were similarly situated, and that you might travel for miles
without seeing a house. For seven weeks one of the
colonists here kept Saturday by mistake for Sunday, and
for fourteen years never saw a strange white woman cross
his threshold. There was, of course, no church or school-
house in any part of that region. Beyond the immediate
bounds of the few primitive houses, scattered thinly over
148 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
the district, there was little evidence of civilisation any-
where, except, perhaps, a bridge at Saltwater Creek.
He established his headquarters for a time at Kaiapoi,
owing to the difficulty of finding a residence elsewhere.
When that proved inconvenient he moved his camp to
Sefton, where a small manse of cob came to be erected for
him, near Mount Grey Swamp. From these points he
was accustomed, with his swag on his back and his staff
in his hand, to make a monthly circuit of from 140 to 185
miles, for a large part of the way by unformed tracks, and
sometimes without any track at all. Afterwards a settler
took pity on him, and made him a present of a big, power-
ful, and sagacious horse, called " Bob," with which he
made many a journey. In these circuits, a course often
taken was from Kaiapoi 66 miles northward, or from
Sefton 53 miles, fording the rivers Waipara and Hurunui,
to Cheviot Hills ; thence, continuing the journey north-
wards, and fording the Waiau River, to Mount Parnassus
Station, a distance of ten miles, and from this place to
Hawkswood, five miles. Turning westward he visited
Ferniehurst, three miles, Waiau township, 21 miles,
Leslie Hills, 12 miles, and Montrose, 4 miles. Strik-
ing southwards, and homewards, he journeyed to Culver-
den, 10 miles, to Glens of Tekoa, by Balmoral, 20 miles,
to Hurunui, 16 miles, and to Sefton or Kaiapoi, 30 or 40
miles. Services were held at each place. At Waiau
Sunday services were conducted in the Courthouse.
Sometimes, instead of crossing the Waiau to Par-
nassus, he would pass over the ranges westward to St.
Leonard's, a journey of 22 miles, and cross the plain from
St. Leonard's to Culverden, and thence homewards. At
times he would go further northwards, by Leslie Pass or the
Waiau Gorge, to the Hanmer Plains and the Hot Springs.
DANGERS AND HARDSHIPS. 149
He was a strong, hardy, energetic man, but the
journeys, with work around Sefton in addition, were too
much for him. He often reached Sefton completely
exhausted. He had many narrow escapes. Once he lost
his way on Teviotdale Kun ; once he was snowed up for
weeks at Hawkswood Station, owned by Mr. John
Scott, Caverhill ; once, in crossing the Waiau River,
he nearly lost his life, being washed off his horse,
wounded severely on the head, and divested of his
leggings, hat, and spectacles. On one occasion he
crossed the ranges from Cheviot to St. Leonard's and
Culverden in deep snow, going along the tops of the
mountain ridges, performing a really hazardous journey
of 32 miles over trackless snow, and reaching Culverden
about three hours after dark. Those who know what
rough up-country work in New Zealand is in a trackless
region, with big unbridged rivers, can understand how
much Mr. Hogg had to encounter and endure. In addi-
tion to these monthly periodical journeys, he carried on
work at Leithfield, Saltwater Creek, Mount Grey Downs,
Ashley Bank, and Loburn, His visitation extended even to
Rangiora and the Cust. There are now in the wide district
through which he itinerated the charges of Rangiora, Cust,
Sefton, Amberley, Waikari, Amuri, and Cheviot. The
region once assigned to one minister has now become closely
settled. Cheviot Station, the " crack run of the district,"
has been sold to the Government for £260,000, and cut up
into small farms. Other runs have shared a similar fate.
Mr. Hogg, who, though an old man, is still living at
Goldsborough, on the West Coast, whither he went after-
wards to labour, has reason to remember, as a set-o£f
against his Amuri hardships, the extreme kindness of Mr.
Donald Cameron, Mr George Rutherford, who gave him
£25 per year, and many others.
150
HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
MRS. W. TODD.
Religious services first began in Prebbleton and
Lincoln in tbe house of Mrs Todd, who in the forties
led a somewhat lonely life at
Riccarton, and came to live in
the Lincoln district in 1858.
Shortly afterwards a building
was erected in which, being
enlarged, the Sunday School
is now held. Here Mr. Bowie,
a teacher brought out from Home
by Mr. Fraser, taught a day
school and a Sunday School,
and religious services were
occasionally held by Mr. Fraser,
Mr. Ferguson, and others.
Finding the Rev. John Camp-
bell of Riwaka, near Nelson, desirous of a change
of pastorate, Mr. Fraser invited him to take charge
of Prebbleton and the country to the south, includ-
ing Leeston, Southbridge, and all that quarter. Without
call or further ceremony he came and was inducted on
February 21st 1866, and proved himself a pleasant and
serviceable friend of the minister of St. Andrew's. Having
successively dispensed with the services of two teachers of
the High School in Christchurch, Mr. Fraser stood much
in need of someone to assume the Rectorship. Accord-
ingly, he prevailed upon Mr. Campbell, after a ministry of
a few years, to resign his congregation, which was only
paying him £60 per year, and fill that position. Mr.
Campbell had reason to regret the step. He set up a
boarding establishment, invested in it all his money, and
left afterwards for Napier with an empty pocket.
The Presbytery of Canterbury, as the Presbytery of
Christchurch was originally called, was formed for the
FIEST MEETING CANTERBURY PRESBYTERY. 151
first time in St, Andrew's Church, on the 16th of January
1864. The members present were : Revs. Charles Fraser,
George Grant, William Kirton, and William Hogg,
ministers, and Messrs Duncan, Gillespie, and Mac-
Millan, elders. The only other minister of this Church
in the South Island at the time was Eev. P. Calder, of
Nelson. Of all these Rev. W. Hogg is the sole survivor.
The following incident will be better understood if
narrated here. It shows how difficult the first minister of
Canterbury found it to realise himself an office-bearer
among equals, and the slip-shod way in which the business
of Church courts was sometimes transacted. As the Pres-
byterial minutes belonging to this period have been
re- written, and are unsigned and unreliable, we take a
portion of our information from other trustworthy docu-
mentary sources.
In due time Rev. John Gow, whose name was
mentioned at the congregational meeting in Lyttelton
when a fruitless attempt was made to call Mr Ferguson,
arrived and preached at the Port. A call was again
moderated in, when only 19 members and 17 adherents
voted for him. Here was an awkward difficulty. He came
with a good reputation, but a call signed by a larger
number had recently been set aside. The Presbytery felt
bound to preserve its consistency, and again declined to
proceed. It appointed a kirk session, with Rev. George
Grant as Moderator. It was agreed to meet in St.
Andrew's Church on a future day, and decide what should
be done with Lyttelton. On December 12th 1865, the
day arranged for. Rev. George Grant, Rev. W. Hogg, and
Mr Drummond M'Pherson, elder of St. Paul's, repaired to
St. Andrew's, but to their surprise were told that Revs.
Fraser and Campbell had gone to Lyttelton to ordain Mr.
152 HISTOEY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Gow. The disappointed and indignant trio held a hasty
consultation, which resulted in their drawing up a protest
and appeal against the proceedings. The next question
was who should serve it. Mr. Grant was not physically
robust, and Mr. McPherson had his business to attend to,
so the duty was laid on the shoulders of Mr. Hogg.
He at once called a cab from the nearest stand, and
jumping in started oflf at a break-neck pace for Lyttelton.
The whip cracked, the flax bushes and the tussocks flew
quickly past. Full of impatience Mr. Hogg took out his
watch as often as the schoolboy who gets possession of one
for the first time, and made fresh calculations every mile.
He was going faster than the vehicle. On and on flew
the steaming horse, urged with whip and voice, through
Heathcote Valley and up on the Bridle Track. When the
cab could go no farther Mr. Hogg leaped from his seat,
and divesting himself of coat and vest rushed up the hill.
He recked not the loss of sweat, breath, or dignity. He
had no eyes for the picturesque beauties of land and sea
seen from the hill top. Lyttelton, as it lay cosily beneath,
was only a place to be reached by a certain hour. Even
the beaten track was occasionally disdained as only
suitable for pleasure-seeking tourists with whom time was
of little consideration, and all possible near-cuts embraced.
At last, panting and perspiring, and much excited, he
entered the church as Mr. Fraser finished the reading of
the Scripture lesson, and had just strength left to say,
"In my own name and in the name of others who have
signed this document, I protest and appeal against these
proceedings." Then, feeling as if he would faint, he
sought for a glass of water. He evidently expected, when
he came armed with his formidable document, that the
ceremony would come to an abrupt termination. It
proceeded, however, to the end.
" THE POWER OP THE KEYS." 153
In due course the appeal came before the General
Assembly, Messrs Grant and McPhersoii, by means of a
little brochure called " The Power of the Keys," putting
the facts of the case into the hands of every member.
The supreme court felt obliged to adopt the recommenda-
tion of a Committee appointed to investigate the matter,
which was, that since Mr. Gow is "now discharging the
duties of his office with apparent success, it would be
unwise to disturb the settlement," that the decision was
not to be viewed as a precedent, and that all were to
" study the laws of the Church."
" For Freedom's battle once begun,
Bequeathed by bleeding sire to son,
Though baffled oft is ever won."
154 HISTORY OF N.Z. rRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
CHAPTER XL
DAYLIGHT IN SOUTH CANTERBURY.
Rev. George Barclay, Father of South Canterbury's System of
Education and Presbyterianism — South Canterbury in 1805 —
Pioneering Difficulties — Rev. Geo. Lindsay — Optimism versus
Pessimism— The First Meeting of the Timaru Presbytery — Rov.
W. R. Campbell-Rev. W. Gillies.
South Canterbury, with its rich alluvial plains, dotted
over with well-cultivated farms and comfortable home-
steads, is calculated to give the stranger a good idea of the
natural resources of the Colony. From it more than,
perhaps, from any other part of New Zealand, the visitor
carries away the impression that there is a great future
before this country.
The plains aglow with Nature s charms,
Were dotted o'er with smiling farms ;
The mountain ranges, high and steep,
Were pastured o'er with flocks of sheep ;
While herds of kine, with restless feet.
Roamed hill and dale in freedom sweet.
It possesses picturesque scenery as well, being chiefly
known to the tourist as the home of Mount Cook, which,
from out many minor snow-clad peaks, lifts its head to
the giddy height of 12,849 feet above the sea level, mantled
by glaciers that rival those of the Alps of Europe. An,
therefore, it has played in the past, so it must continue to
play for many years to come, a prominent part in the
records of New Zealand.
EEV. GEOKGE BARCLAY. 155
The Rev. George Barclay, now of Waimate, has prob-
ably left deeper marks, ecclesiastical, educational and
social, on the history of its early days than any person now
living or dead. His name is a household word in South
Canterbury. There are few churches, and scarcely a
school in this wide area that he has not had a hand in
building. Previous to his day, which began in 1865, the
district had been cursorily visited by Rev. C. Fraser, of
Christchurch, whose church extension fame was in all the
churches, and by Rev. John Thorn. The latter was an
eccentric, though earnest, evangehst, and is chiefly remem-
bered for his frequently breaking out into involuntary and
uncontrollable fits of laughter, when in preaching some-
thing suddenly tickled his fancy. Timaru and Waimate
being on the way to Dunedin, ministers often called there,
stopped for the night, and gave the few scattered settlers
of the neighbourhood the benefit of their services. That
was all. No attempt at ecclesiastical organization before
his time was made. The services rendered by Mr.
Barclay to education and religion have been often
recognised. He has been from their first inception, some
twenty years ago, and is still a member of the South
Canterbury Board of Education, and of the Timaru and
Waimate School Boards. In formulating the regulations
and in carrying on the practical work of these educational
institutions, Mr. Barclay has had a large directive hand.
Setting up the establishments in the interests of the
people, he has always sought to keep them under popular
control. The life membership on the Board of Governors
of the Timaru High School, which the Government gave
him some time ago, he voluntarily exchanged for an elec-
tive one. Many a battle in the cause of secondary and
higher education has been fought and won by him, while not
neglecting the interests of the primary schools. The State
156 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
also recognised his talents and services by appoint-
ing him in 1880 Justice of the Peace, at a time when
the position was regarded with more honour than at
present. His own congregation and friends showed the
esteem in which he was held by making him the recipient
of a flattering address and the sum of £600, on the occa-
sion when, owing to his arduous labours, his sight gave
way, and necessitated a visit to Mr. White Cooper, of
London, the eminent occulist to the Royal Household. The
supreme court of the Church, too, conferred on him the
highest honour in its gift. The General Assembly which
met in Wellington in 1877 called him to the Moderator's
chair. Though, owing to impaired vision and the chronic
rheumatism that threatened him, he resigned his large
and cumbrous parish about the end of 1889, after a
pastorate of 25 years, he is still vigorous, and preaches
occasionally for his brother ministers. The lectures, also,
which he gives show much thought and erudition, and
always secure large and appreciative audiences.
Archbishop Magee's classification of preachers is :
First, the preacher you can't listen to ;
Second, the preacher you can listen to ;
Third, the preacher you can't help listening to.
Mr. Barclay, as a lecturer, belongs to the latter class.
We make no apology for prominently introducing his
name. To write the ecclesiastical history of South
Canterbury without mentioning the father of its educa-
tional system and its Presbyterianism would be like
detailing the history of Corinth or Ephesus and leaving
out the name of Paul.
Mr. Barclay was educated partly at University College,
London, and partly at other Home institutions. There he
acquired the groundwork of those scholarly attainments
SOUTH CANTERBURY IN THE SIXTIES. 157
for which he has always been distinguished. Having
studied at the Presbyterian Collegp of the English capital,
and become a licentiate of the London Presbytery, he was
considering an overture to enter the Mission field of India,
where his erudition should have had ample scope, when a
call from a charge in North Canterbury came to him in
Edinburgh. His medical adviser strongly recommended
him in the then state of his health to go to New Zealand.
Accordingly Mr. Barclay set sail in a ship bound for this
Colony, and, after nearly six months' tossing at sea and
caUing at intermediate ports, landed at Lyttelton on the
first day of the year 1865. Finding Amuri, for which he
was at first designated, already occupied by Eev. W. Hogg,
he was led to turn his thoughts to Timaru and its
surroundings as his Colonial field of labour. This district
offered him a stipend of £300. Now-a-days it is not
considered a great feat to run down from Christchurch to
Timaru, but in those days it was a tedious and somewhat
hazardous journey. The newly-arrived young minister
was therefore ordained over his South Canterbury charge
in St. Paul's Church, Christchurch, on March 8th 1865.
Shortly afterwards he set out for his future sphere of
work to inaugurate a new era, religious and educational, in
South Canterbury. The duties that lay before him might
have appalled a less courageous mind. It was difiicult to
reach his new sphere of labour. There was then no break-
water at Timaru to furnish refuge for ships, or food for end-
less controversy as to its capabilities in the way of resisting
the encroaching shingle. The loading of the first wool ship,
the " May Queen " in 1865 must, therefore, have been a
difficulty. To come ashore from the " Maori " or the
" City of Dunedin " in one of the old surf-boats, on the
crest of a surging sea, was a perilous undertaking. Rocks
on the one hand and the raging waves on the other 1
158 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Scylla and Cbarybdis of Homeric fame were nothing com-
pared to it. Once landed, the next difficulty was to
traverse the wide district that was to form his new parish.
Mr. Barclay himself used facetiously to say that his
pastorate was bounded by the Rangitata River on the
north, by the Waitaki on the south, by the Pacific Ocean
on the east, and by the Southern Alps on the west. Within
this area eighty miles square, or nearly seven thousand
square miles, it will be admitted by all that there was
ample work for both man and horse. He had no reason
to say,
" But now I am cabin'd, cribb'd, confin'd, bound in."
Over this vast territory, destitute of roads and intersected
with dangerous, unbridged rivers, Mr. Barclay roamed at
his sweet will preaching the Gospel, sometimes in private
houses, sometimes in woolsheds, and sometimes in the open
air. Those were not the days of fine churches and elegant
lecture halls, and comfortable manses. There were none
of them, and, as a consequence, no regular service could
be held. Whatever settlers were in the district attended
his services irrespective of the denomination to which they
belonged, members of other Churches partaking even of
the Lord's Supper dispensed by his hands. The popu-
lation, however, was exceedingly sparse. Timaru itself
which has now about 800 buildings and 4000 persons
living in them, had then only a few houses. Amongst
these was a Bank of New Zealand, whose respected
manager, Robert A. Chisholm, Esq., gracefully extended
his hospitality to the new minister, and did what he
could to uphold his hands. Miss Chisholm, afterwards
the wife of the Rev. T. S. Stanley, was in those days the
minister's right hand worker. She seemed to be elder,
deaconess, co-visitor, and local guide, all comprised
PIONEERING DIFFICULTIES. 159
in one individual. The city was in embryo. The
tussock grew undisturbed in the streets. Temuka had
scarcely an existence. Geraldine had a tenement or two,
with a few important residences clustered around.
Pleasant Point and Waimate had each a smithy, an
accommodation house, and one or two other necessary
adjuncts. Other places, such as Burke's Pass and Fairlie,
had hardly " a local habitation and a name." Between
these districts, now amply provided with facilities for
communication, there were then no regularly formed roads.
Even the main roads were tracks which, like the rivers
in flood-time, were continually shifting, as waggons,
bullock teams, and horses made the old tracks impas-
sable; Until the telegraphic poles were erected on
the chief lines of route, the traveller often found it
difficult to know whether or not he was turning
his back on his place of destination and jurneying
to the place from whence he came. It was no un-
common thing for a wayfarer to single out a cabbage
tree in the distance as a land-mark and take as straight a
course as possible for it. This accounts for the numerous
accidents and hairbreadth escapes which the minister of
this parish experienced in early days. We have referred
to these elsewhere. On this subject we believe Mr.
Barclay could write a volume that would read like a novel,
and whose dramatic details
" Would harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young blood,
Make thy two eyes like stars start from their spheres ;
Thy knotted and combined locks to part,
And each particular hair to stand on end,
Like quills upon the fretful porcupine."
The wonder is that he lives to tell the tale. The seven
ministers in regular charges who now occupy this field,
160 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
and pop out of the manse into the church, or make short
appetising drives to hold a service, know little of this
experience.
When arrangements were somewhat advanced he
usually conducted worship in the morning at Timaru in
the Mechanics' Institute, the first service being held in
that place on March 19th, 1865 ; and in the afterpart of
the day he officiated at the schoolhouse, Georgestown,
Temuka, or in the house of the late Captain Macpherson,
Geraldine, or in the residence of Mr. Austin, Orari, or m
some suitable place at Pleasant Point. At the beginning
of his ministry he visited every part of the Mackenzie
Country, and continued to do so regularly throughout the
the whole period of his pastorate. There were many
difficulties and dangers to be encountered on these journeys,
which often extended over a month, but the kindness he
experienced on all hands from that hospitable people, and
the manner in which his services and sacrifices were
appreciated by them, seemed an ample compensation.
The question of a church early came up for considera-
tion at Timaru, and the congregation resolved to build a
substantial one of stone on a quarter-acre section given to
the Church by Messrs. Rhodes. This church was capable
of seating 220 persons, and had therefore less than
one-third the accommodation possessed by the present
spacious building. It was opened for worship on July
7th 1867 by Rev. John Hall, who was at that time
supplying Lyttelton and Banks Peninsula.
Though 1868 was a year of earthquakes, floods, a tidal
wave, the Poverty Bay Massacre, and much disturbance by
sea and land, in nature and in society, the work of
organisation went on at Timaru. In connection with
THE DEACONS' COURT. 161
the appointment of office-bearers the ordinance of the
Lord's Supper was dispensed early in 1868, " and thus
afforded " an opportunity of ascertaining the strength and
prosperity of the church." There was no difference of
opinion in the congregation regarding the desirability of
selecting elders forthwith, and Messrs. Hart, Hutton, and
McKnight were appointed the first members of Session on
July 8th 1868. Messrs. Hart and Hutton are still useful
and respected members of the court. The election of
other office-bearers, however, gave rise to discussion.
Some advocated the setting apart of deacons, and some
the selection of a Provisional Committee of Managers,
who without ordination should discharge the same duties.
The majority decided in favour of managers, but ruled that
they must be communicants. There being some difficulty in
filling the office even on these terms, the latter provision
was cancelled, and the following persons connected with
the congregation were, about the time the elders were
appointed, elected members of Committee : — Messrs. Cull-
man, Philps, Fyfe, Thompson, P. Todd, and Dr. McLean.
Mr. R. A. Chisholm was appointed secretary and Mr. W.
P. Monro treasurer, but, by mutual agreement, they
exchanged offices soon afterwards. The Session subse-
quently decided in favour of a Deacons' Court, and
that class of officers which seems necessary to complete our
Church polity came into existence twenty years' ago,
and has continued ever smce to be one of the admirable
distinguishing characteristics of this congregation. A
number of them retire periodically, only they never cease to
be deacons. It would be well if all our New Zealand
churches, instead of one here and there, followed in the
same footsteps. The Churches of New Testament times
had deacons regularly ordained, under Divine guidance.
lG-2 HISTORY OF N Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
and we have reason to believe that not a Httle of their
prosperity was due to this circumstance (Act vi., 7).
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice.
Elders were also chosen at Temuka, and managers at the
other outlying stations, and everything possible done to
organize and compact the unwieldy charge, but in spite
of this the disintegrating process set in to which Mr.
Barclay's sphere of labour has been repeatedly subjected.
Immigrants were pouring in from the Old Country, while
not a few colonists came from other parts of New Zealand :
and Timaru having grown considerably in people and im-
portance objected to its minister being so often absent,
supplying outlying districts, especially as some of those
districts were dilatory and parsimonious in sending in their
contributions to headquarters.
The office-bearers at Timaru had repeatedly urged the
the people of Temuka and their friends to provide them-
selves with a minister. The town congregation had gone the
length of discontinuing the fortnightly services at Temuka.
On being urged in April 1870 to re-establish them for
another year, the Session and Committee of Timaru con-
sented, on condition that Temuka congregation should erect
a suitable place of worship, and "take steps, in conjunction
with Mr. Barclay, to obtain a minister " for themselves.
The following year Temuka fulfilled its contract. It
erected a church, and, after consulting with Mr. Barclay,
invited the minister of Timaru to be its pastor. The
latter considered this the best way out of the difficulty.
To put the matter on a proper basis, Temuka and adjoin-
ing districts made out a call in favour of Mr. Barclay, and
appointed Mr. W. Macdonald to support it at next meeting
of the Canterbury Presbytery. The Presbytery considered
Mr. Barclay ought to have the right to decide to
what district he should minister ; and Mr. Barclay,
MR. BAECLAY AT TEMUKA. 163
having chosen Temuka and outlying regions, it appointed
the Rev. W. Hogg of Amuri to induct him at Temuka
on January 21st 1872. In the evening of the same
day he was to preach at Timaru, and declare the pulpit
there vacant. Mr. Hogg tells us that on the occasion
he was not at all captivated with Timaru, and still less
with Temuka. This, when we consider his rough ex-
periences at Amuri, is very suggestive. The railway, now
such a convenience between Timaru and Temuka, had only
been commenced. The Canterbury Plains, at present so
distinguished for their network of water-races, supplied by
the Opihi, Rangatata, and other rivers, and which intersect
the main roads at many points, were that year so dry that
Cobb and Co.'s coachman had to carry water with him for
his horses. There were few trees to be seen anywhere in
a country whose many homesteads to-day are cosily em-
bosomed in beautiful clumps of these tall, leafy members
of the vegetable kingdom, brought from Europe or Aus-
tralia. The native bush, which had given importance
to Georgestown, was cut down; and at Temuka there
was, when Mr. Hogg visited it in 1872, a miserable little
hamlet of a few houses.
On leaving Timaru, Mr. Barclay took up his residence
in a house near Geraldine, on the Temuka side, consider-
ing that a central place from which to work his extensive
parish. Here he lived for more than a year, until a manse
in course of preparation was ready, and preached in
Geraldine Presbyterian Church, erected soon after that
of Temuka, in Temuka Presbyterian Church, and in many
other places.
It soon became evident that Mr Barclay's superin-
tendence of so wide an area must be only temporary. As
a means of relief, it was proposed that Temuka and Wai-
mate be formed into a charge, and unitedly call a minister.
1G4 HISTORY OK N.Z. PRESBYTEllIAN CHURCH.
These congregations, however, soon took independent
courses. Terauka erected a church in 1871, the year in
which the first sod of the railway between Timaru and
Temuka was cut, and began to put its house in order.
Waimate, lying on the extreme southern border, did not
expect much from the minister of Temuka and Geraldine,
and commenced at once to shift for itself. Not content
with Mr Barclay's coming down to hold a service now and
again in a schoolhouse, long since removed, a Committee
formed there in February 1871, got supplies from the
Christchurch Evangelistic Association. Rev. Mr. Ewen
having arrived from Scotland, it engaged his services,
and during the two years he was in Waimate he
did much to consolidate the church in that place. En-
couraged thus the congregation set about the erection
of a building for worship, which was opened on August
22nd 1874 by the Rev. A. B. Todd of Oamaru,
who had as a neighbouring minister done much to
foster the charge. Mr Ewen having left for Otago, the
Waimate people turned their eyes towards Mr. George
Lindsay, a young divinity student connected with the
Dunedin Presbytery. He was appointed by the Timaru
Presbytery to supply Waimate for six months, examined,
in due time licensed, and on February 5th 1876 was
ordained as minister of this charge.
Settlement now rapidly progressed within the bounds
of Mr. Barclay's charge, greatly increasing his labours.
Like Timaru Geraldine complained of his frequent
absences. It found, from subscription lists sent out, that
Pleasant Point was willing to promise £187, and Temuka
£140, towards the support of a minister, and, on its
recommendation, the charge was divided by the Presby-
tery in April 1879 into three, i.e., Pleasant Point,
OPTIMISM V. PESSIMISM. 165
Temuka, and Geraldine, the latter including Mackenzie
Country. Effect was given to this decision, when Rev. A.
Alexander was inducted at Pleasant Point, and Rev. D.
Gordon at Temuka.
On December 3rd 1889 Mr. Barclay retired from the
active duties of the ministry, his congregation on the
occasion presenting him with a valuable gold watch and
chain, and a flattering address, and Mrs. Barclay with
some handsome articles of jewellery.
Considermg the trying experience, physical and
mental, through which Mr. Barclay has passed, it is not to
be wondered at if he lost something of the buoyancy and
hopefulness that characterised his early life. This is a
tendency of our nature. Francis Bacon, living in the
Golden Age of English literature, was of opinion " that
they were somewhat on the descent of the wheel."
Ruskin and Carlyle have not done justice to the Victorian
Age. In spite of pessimists the events of the world are
making for righteousness. Mr. Swinburne speaks strongly,
but with some truth, when he says : " Every age is one of
decadence in the eyes of its own fools." Pessimism
seriously detracts from a minister's usefulness. If he is
not hopeful himself , how can he expect to instil faith, hope,
and enthusiasm, into the people. " We have nothing
left but God," is with some the height of destitution.
We want all to learn with Pope —
" All Nature is but art unknown to thee,
All chance direction which thou canst not see,
All discord harmony not understood,
All partial evil universal good ;
And, spite of pride, in erring reason's spite,
One truth is clear — whatever is is right."
Mr. W. R. Campbell, a probationer of the Presbytery
of Edinburgh, selected in Scotland by Commissioners acting
166 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
on behalf of the Timaru congregation, was at once sent
out by the Free Church to occupy the vacant field. The
Presbytery of Christchurch thought this a favourable
opportunity for complying with the wishes of the General
Assembly and organising a local Presbytery. It sent down
Rev. Mr. McGowan, of Lyttelton, for that purpose.
The Timaru Presbytery met for the first time on
September 2ith 1873, in the vestry of the Presbyterian
Church, Timaru, the sederunt being : —
Rev. W. S. McGowan, Moderator.
Rev. Geo. Bakclay, minister of Temuka, Geraldine, &o.
Mr. W. Stewart, elder of Temuka.
Mr. a. Hart, elder of Timaru.
Revs. C. Fraser and A. T. Douglas being present
were associated. At this meeting Mr. Campbell presented
himself, was taken on trial, examined, approved of, and
ordained all upon the same day.
Mr. Campbell's pastorate in Timaru was very short.
He resigned in September 1874, and departed for Amuri,
where he is still carrying on without ostentation a most
successful work. During the eight months' vacancy that
followed, the Timaru congregation was supplied from
various quarters.
Rev. William Gillies, who was destined to play so
prominent a part in the history of the Church, now came
on the scene. He is a well-known figure on the floor of
Presbytery and General Assembly, and makes as many
speeches and frames as many resolutions as any of its
members. His opinions are always listened to with
respect. Few have a better knowledge of ecclesiastical
law, or know how to use it in the Church Courts to more
advantage. He has rendered eminent service to " the
REV. WILLIAM GILLIES. 167
Widows and Orphans Fund," conferring on this Church
much the same benefit he conferred on the Church of
Otago and Southland, where he initiated a similar scheme.
The Aged and Infirm Ministers Fund has also had the
advantage of his legal mind. He had a large hand in
seeing the present Book of Order through the press. He
is a keen controversialist, and the many who have crossed
swords with him have reason to view him as a foeman
worthy of their steel. His controversy with Mr. Kerr,
Chairman of the Timaru Licensing Bench, in the crowded
theatre, will long be remembered. His motto in the fight
is : —
" Wha' for Scotland's King and law
Freedom's sword will strongly draw ?
Freeman stand, or Freeman fa',
Caledonia! on wi' me."
At the time we write he was minister of West Taieri
in Otago. His reputation had reached the people of
Timaru, looking this way and that way in vain for a
pastor. They had heard that he was an old colonist, who
had come out with his parents to Otago in 1852, and
pushing himself forward by his own perseverance had
returned to the Old Country to study for the ministry,
being the first New Zealand colonist who entered the
ministry of this Church ; that he had studied at the
University of Glasgow, and the Presbyterian College of
London, had come back to Otago in April 1864 a
licentiate of the London Presbytery ; and that his ministra-
tions in the Taieri were meeting with much acceptance.
Notwithstanding, they made an efi'ort to get him to preach
in Timaru, and failing in that, they sent a deputation,
who reported favourably, and Mr. Gillies was inducted at
Timaru on April 21st 1875. Dr Stuart on the occasion
expressed the hope, by letter, and the Rev. Mr. Ryley, of
168 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Otepopo, Rev. Mr. Todd, of Oamaru, and others, gave vent
to the expectation in their speeches, that Mr. Gillies*
coming across the Waitaki into South Canterbury would
be a step towards a united Church. This natural hope
bas not yet been realised. The concluding remarks of
Rev. C. Fraser, at the soiree in the evening, are worthy
of being quoted, as showing the strength of the Pres-
byterian Church in Canterbury at the time : —
The Presbyterians numbered about one-sixth of the popula-
tion of the Province. Including Mr. Lindsay of Waimate, there were
13 Presbyterian clergymen, and if the clergymen of other denomina-
tions were as numerous in proportion to the number of their people,
there would be 78 ministers in Canterbury. There was not this
number of ministers, and the fact spoke well for the strength of the
Presbyterians. The Presbyterians in Canterbury were about equal
in number to those of Dunedin alone. He mentioned the foregoing
facts to show that the Presbyterians here, though comparatively
weak, were making an onward movement.
Immediately after his induction Mr Gillies was
appointed Clerk of the Timaru Presbytery, an office he had
held in the Presbytery of Dunedin, and when he resigned
16 years afterwards in favour of a younger man, he
received the cordial thanks of the Presbytery for his
" unfailing courtesy " and his keeping of the records
" with punctuality and regularity." His own congre-
gation prospered under his ministry. The present church,
with its massive, classical architecture, and capable of
seating 700 worshippers, cost £5000, and was opened on
October 15th 1876. The building of the manse in 1879
completed the church property. It cost, with site, £2300.
If the town has grown greatly in modern times, the
congregation has also had its increase. In 1868 there
were only 32 communicants, and this small number fell
off somewhat until the commencement of Mr. Gillies'
ministry, in 1876 the number recorded is 66 ; in 1877,
PKOGEESS IN TIMARU. 169
121 ; ill 1880, 175 ; in 1883, 195; in 1886, 207 ; and the
number has gradually increased until, in 1898, the average
attendance at the Communion table was 239, while the
membership on the roll was 350. During Mr. Gilhes'
pastorate of 23 years the revenue for ordinary purposes
has averaged about £1000 per annum, while the amount
which has been received from all sources exceeds ^630,000.
Mr. Gillies, however, would be himself the first to
confess that he had come far short of his own ideal.
He covered the period of his sojourn in Timaru, when
he wrote, not in the vigorous prose of his numerous
pamphlets, but in smoothly flowing rhyme, re the Otago
Jubilee celebrations, words which we heartily endorse : —
" Aud now, at close of fifty years,
No vain regrets, no useless tears.
We waste o'er changes unforeseen
Or sigh for things that might have been ;
But joining in a song of praise.
Our hearts and voices we upraise,
With fellow settlers great and small,
To Him who ruleth over all :
For every blessing of our lot,
In this fair land and favoured spot!"
170 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
CHAPTER XII.
BETTER THAN THE GOLD OF WESTLAND.
Settlement in Westland— Mr. A. Scott writes the Presbytery — Rev.
John Gow's Visit to Westland— Hokitika Charge Organised— Mr.
Gow's Settlement— Great Undertakings — A Noble Group of Officc-
Bearers, Messrs. A. Bonar, C. E. Button, A. Scott, Mueller, &c.—
Greymouth — Rev. Jos. Mcintosh with his Wife Shipwrecked on
their way— His Work at Greymouth — Mr Gow's Success in
Westland— Rev. James Kirkland— Mr. D. W. Virtue— How Rev.
W. Hogg Came to Assume the Pastorate of Ross — Failure of
Ross Mining— Dangerous Journeys— The First Presbytery-
Stafford— Kumara Leaps into Prominence— Mr. Hogg Leaves for
Sydney.
Settlement in Westland is not governed by the rules that
regulate population in agricultural districts. It partakes of a
character quite its own. Few of the advantages enjoyed
by the Canterbury Plains, for example, are possessed by
Westland. The difficulty of approaching it in early days
by sea or land, the broken nature of its surface, the
magnitude of its glaciers and snow fields, the fluctua-
tions of its rivers, the general poverty of its soil, and
the moisture of its climate, all combine to make it for
immigrants a somewhat undesirable place to live in.
Notwithstanding, it has to-day, though only twenty-
five miles wide, a population of 15,000. Besides a
a goodly number of people in other districts have
resided in it for a longer or shorter period of time. Its
towns in their origin have been mostly of mushroom
growth, and in their subsequent history some have shown
strong similarity to the same perishable fungus. A few
SETTLEMENT IN WESTLAND. 171
have collapsed as suddenly as they have sprung into life,
like flowers in a garden swept by a Canterbury nor'-wester,
and some have survived to lead a precarious existence.
Ministers of charges, like those of Reefton and Ross, after
entering on their labours with high expectations, have had
to stand by and see their flocks grow thinner day by day,
while perhaps some of their fellow labourers in other
districts were welcoming home-returning prodigals, whose
absence they had long deplored. Fluctuation, bad
enough elsewhere, is here the predominant and only sure
factor. The love of money, which is the "root of all evil,"
constitutes the disturbing element. Home, school, society
church, and everything else, must give place to the gold
that, as a quaint writer puts it, " hath wings which carry
everywhere, except to heaven." Not that gold-seekers are
sinners above all others. Rivarol truly remarks, " Gold,
like the sun which melts wax and hardens clay, expands
great souls and contracts bad hearts." Just as the
most eminent Christians are found among soldiers and
sailors, so some of the finest characters, as we shall see,
have been met with in Westland. The grace that keeps
them from being submerged by the waves of selfishness,
worldliness, and avarice, makes them strong and vigorous
swimmers in the ordinary sea of humanity. The Golden
Coast forms a good harvest field for the missionary in spite
of the
" Gold, father of flatterers, of pain and care begot :
A fear it is to have thee, a pain to have thee not."
Hokitika has been called the centre of the Golden
Coast. It owes its birth to the gold rush of March I860,
commonly known as " the Hokitika rush." Prior to this
there were a few tents occupied by stray adventurous
pioneers on the bank of the river. News of rich gold finds
on the West Coast had gone out in the beginning of 1865,
172 HISTORY OF N.Z. PEESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
and thousands from Otago and other parts of this Colony,
and even from Victoria, came pouring in by land and sea
about March of that year. Vessels crowded with gold-seekers
might have been seen almost daily essaying the treacherous
bar. The beach became strewn with wrecks, and gave to
Hokitika an unenviable notoriety in those days. Many
tried to reach it by a not less dangerous land route,
crossing from Christchurch the unopened mainland.
What barrier will stop those in quest of gold? Revell
street sprung up as if by magic on a sand-bank running
along the north side of the river. Side streets were added
with similar rapidity. The temporary tenements were run
up with either canvas or timber, and almost every other
one was a grog shop, dignified with the name of an hotel.
In Revell street, long the chief business street of the
city, might now have been seen at times a motley throng.
There were men of various denominations and of no
denomination. Englishmen, Scotchmen, Irishmen, and
persons belonging to races other than the Anglo-Saxon.
Over the intoxicating cup many a heated discussion took
place about the prospects of this and that mining claim.
Occasionally it ended in blows. Gold furnished an inex-
haustible theme. Some, in their endeavour to acquire it
by a short cut, added the vice of gambling to their other
delinquencies. Many of the more disreputable class,
however, soon left the district. The majority of the gold
diggers, when matters settled down a little, were intelligent
and law-abiding men, who brought much knowledge and
skill to bear upon a vocation which they eagerly and
enthusiastically pursued.
" There are dreams in the Gold of the kowhai ;
And when ratas are breaking in bloom,
I can hear the rich murmur of voices
In the deeps of the fern-shaded gloom."
DESIRE FOR MINISTERS IN WESTLAND.
173
In most of the inland mining centres libraries
and reading rooms were very early established, and
many can testify to the reading habits and the wide
general knowledge of the diggers as a class. Their
occupation required at least a partial knowledge of scien-
tific lore. As a rule they were favourably disposed towards
the Gospel, and most hberal in its support. The first
ministers in Greymouth and Hokitika were paid 4'400
per annum ; Stafford paid a stipend of £300 ; and when
the church was established in Kumara the same ministerial
support as at Stafford was afforded. Such was the field
in which the Presbyterian cause came into existence on
the West Coast.
Mr. Archibald Scott, now the respected Manager of
the Standard Insurance Company, Christchurch, had the
honour of being the first to
move in the direction of pro-
viding ministerial services for
the Presbyterians of Hokitika.
He wrote a letter in the
beginning of 1865 to the
Canterbury Presbytery, set-
ting forth the rapid growth
and pressing needs of the
members and adherents of
the Church in and around
Hokitika. The result was
a visit from the Kev. C. Fraser
of Christchurch, who thought
the best way to test the
intensity of their desire for /
ministers in Westland was to solicit contributions from
the West Coast people for the bringing o/ them out from
I
MR. ARCHIBALD SCOTT.
174 HISTORY OP N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Home. He must have been satisfied of a strong wish on
their part for the ordinances of religion, for on July 11th
of that year we find him reporting to the Canterbury
Presbytery that he had remitted £100 to the Old Country for
a minister on behalf of Hokitika, and would shortly remit also
on behalf of Grey mouth. After Mr. Fraser there came
various other ministers to temporarily supply ordinances,
amongst whom were the Rev. J. Campbell, of Lincoln
and Prebbleton ; the Rev. Geo. Grant, of St. Paul's, Christ-
church ; the Rev. John Gow, of Lyttelton ; and Rev.
John Hall.
The Rev. John Gow's visit was to be attended with
results important for Westland. Early in 1866, or a few
months after his settlement in Lyttleton, he was sent by the
Presbytery to organise a congregation in Hokitika. On
that occasion he preached for a month in the Brigade
Hall, Revell street, administered the Lord's Supper, formed
a communion roll of 66 members, and held a congrega-
tional meeting at which, for the purpose of building a
church, there was elected a Committee consisting of
Messrs. J. A. Bonar, J. McHaffie, A. Scott, J. S. Johnstone
(solicitor), J. M. Aitken, and M. Sprott ; Mr Bonar being
Treasurer, and Mr Scott, Secretary. This Committee
was a strong one. It was composed of energetic and
experienced business men, in whose hands the building of
a church soon made good progress. Hokitika has always
been blessed with excellent ministers and office-bearers.
Some difficulty was experienced over the selection of
a site. Two sites had been set apart by the Provincial
Government of Canterbury for church and school purposes,
as if it were haunted by the consciousness that, neither of
them being of much value, the Presbyterian congregation
ought to be accorded a choice. As a matter of fact, the
REV. JOHN HALL'S MINISTRATIONS. 175
one was a swamp and the other out of the way. Both
together comprised about two acres, while larger areas,
with better land, were reserved for other denominations.
The site on which the church and manse now stand was
originally set apart as a reserve for a Congregational
church and school. After the other Churches had made
a beginning the Rev. B. Drake came to Hokitika in the
interests of Independency, and built a small wooden house
on the reserve. He had only been resident for a few weeks
when he came to the conclusion that it was hopeless to
establish there a branch of his Church. Overtures having
been made to him by the Presbyterian Committee he agreed
to surrender all Congregational Church rights to the
reserve in favour of the Presbyterian Church, and the Com-
mittee on its part agreed to pay him the sum of £50 in
view of his outlay. With the assistance of the Hon. J. A.
Bonar, who was then Gold Fields Secretary, the transfer
was sanctioned by the Government, duly gazetted, and in
due time made over to the trustees appointed by the con-
gregation, viz., Messrs. James A. Bonar, W. S. Reid, A.
Scott, and W. Jack. The church has no reason to
regret the action of the Committee.
Here, eight months after the first congregational meeting
was held, the church was erected at a cost, exclusive of
spire which was added afterwards, of £700. During three
months of this important period the congregation enjoyed
the wise counsel and stimulating ministrations of Rev.
John Hall. He had come out from the Irish Presbyterian
Church, been labouring for sometime in Vancouver's
Island, had received instructions from the Home Mission
Board to proceed to Auckland with the view of ministering
to the Waikato people, but at the urgent solicitation of
the Church Extension Committee, he came to Hokitika.
176 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
In building up the first Westland Presbyterian congregation
he rendered most efficient service.
Possibly a call would have been given to hira had ho
not thought he could do better work in organising charges
throughout the Church. The eyes of the congregation
then turned towards Mr. Gow, and not in vain. The
Presbytery having received a memorial signed by 67 com-
municants and 69 adherents, asking for a moderation in
favour of the minister of Lyttelton, on November 7th 1860,
Mr. Hall was instructed to moderate in a call. The result
was that a call in favour of Mr.
Gow, duly signed and certified,
reached the Presbytery at its
meeting on January 9th 1867.
Two circumstances, amongst
others, weighed with Mr. Gow in
accepting it. One was that the
storm raised over the rejection
of Mr. Ferguson of Lyttelton,
which had found its way into
the supreme court of the Church,
had not quite subsided. The other ^^^' '^^^ °°*-
was, that the Hokitika people
offered a stipend of £450. The latter were determined
that, since for lack of a settled minister they wore some-
what late entering the field as a congregation, they would
now offer such an inducement as should at once secure an
acceptable pastor. Besides, it was the time of a gold
boom. Mr. Hall having left Hokitika, and no other
minister being available, Mr. Gow inducted himself. For
a similar reason he opened the new church on February
8rd 1867, and ever since that time the congregational year
has begun with the lat of February.
GREAT UNDERTAKINGS. 177
Some fears were entertained lest the Presbyterians
who had gone to swell the Church of England and
Wesleyan congregations should be lost to the Church. No
sooner, however, was the old blue banner of Presby-
terianism unfurled by the strong hand of Mr. Gow
than these former sons and daughters of the Church
bravely and loyally rallied round it. From that day till
the present the Hokitika congregation has held a con-
spicuous place among the Christian churches in advancing
the Redeemer's cause in Westland.
The next step was to purchase a manse. Here there
is a disappointing faUing off. The ministerial residence
was not at all on a scale with the church finished or the
stipend promised. It was a small cottage of four rooms ;
yet, though it was the only accommodation afforded Mr.
Gow's family for years, no complaints were made.
Almost every year for a number of years, the congre-
gation, in addition to meeting current expenses, initiated
some building or embellishing scheme. Towards the close
of 1867 a vestry was provided for the church, Mr. M.
Sprott, father of the wife of Rev. E. Mackintosh late of
Temuka, lecturing to raise the necessary funds. In 1868
the church was lined at a cost of f 230, and two rooms
added to, and sundry repairs effected upon, the manse at
a cost of £150. In 1869 it rendered assistance, pecuniary
and otherwise, to Greymouth. In 1870 the paddock in
which the church stood was taken in hand, and the huge
stumps that covered it, the remains of the gigantic trees of
early days, were rooted out. This entailed considerable
labour. A feature of the proceedings was a " stump
concert," which in spite of the name offered a sumptuous
bill of musical fare, and netted £50. In 1871 the sum
of £122 was expended in completing the spire of the
178 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
church. The motto of the congregation seemed to be: —
" Strengthen the wavering line,
'Stablish, continue our march
On to the bounds of the waste,
On to the City of God."
The prosperity of Hokitika congregation, of which
Eev. W. Douglas is now the efficient minister, has been
largely due to its excellent staff of office-bearers. As a
rule, they have been men of the right stamp, who put their
whole heart and soul into their work. The first Session
was composed of as noble a band of workers as any
minister could desire to have. Their names were Messrs.
A. Bonar, A. Scott, G. Mueller, J. Crerar, Andrew Orr,
Joseph Anderson, and Andrew Peebles. A few words as
to the more prominent of these will not be out of place.
Mr A. Bonar, whose photograph appears in the
Hokitika group, has an interesting history. He is said to
have represented the Elgin Borough in the Established
Assembly at Home, and to have been the first Free Church
Treasurer, a distinguished office which he held for four
years. He is credited with having sought out his suc-
cessor, Mr John Macdonald, who discharged the duties
of the Treasurership for 40 years. Dr. John Bonar,
afterwards Secretary for the F. C. Colonial Committee,
was a brother of his, while Drs. Horatius and Andrew
were cousins. He was an elder in Dr. Gordon's church,
Edinburgh, and was on most intimate terras with
Dr. Andrew Thomson, Merle D'Aubigne, Duchess of
Gordon, and all the giants of those days. His grandson
is called Merle after D'Aubign^.
A man bringing such traditions with him to New
Zealand was sure to infuse a good spirit into the Hokitika
congregation. He was a prime mover in starting the
A NOBLE GROU"? OF OFFICE-BEARERS.
179
Presbyterian cause there, and a chief spoke in the wheel of
its progress. Reverence for the Word of God was one of his
pronounced characteristics. His reading of the lOOlh
Psalm was said to have been majestically solemn and
impressive. He was also one of the originators of the
local Benevolent Society.
Mr. C. E. Button, now of Auckland, rendered good
service to the congregation in many ways. He was a
man of ability, who was
brought to the knowledge
of the truth under the
ministry of Rev. Mr. Gow
and who cheerfully after-
wards devoted all his ener-
gies and talents to the
furtherance of the Gospel
in Hokitika. Lectures
were sometimes given by
him when funds to meet
some of the many build-
ing schemes inaugurated
were required. He wasn't
above starting a psalmody
class and himself for a
time acting as precentor.
A great enthusiast in
musical matters he had
a large hand in modernis-
ing this part of divine service in tlie congregation. Pos-
sessed of excellent speaking gifts, and a good character, he
was always most acceptable to the people, was often pressed
into taking a service at Hokitika, and regularly supplied such
outside preaching stations as Blue Spur, Woodstock, Szc.
MR. C. E. BUTTON.
180
HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The following incident will furnish an example of the
diffidence of true worth. Rev. Mr. Gow had to open
the new church at Stafford, and Mr. Button was appointed
to conduct the evening service at Hokitika. While the
latter service was proceeding Mr. Gow arrived in town
and quietly slipped into a corner of the church, desirous
tliit his presence should be unobserved. The preacher,
however, observing him felt disconcerted, and as he
himself put it afterwards, " steadied himself by giving
out the intimations."
Mr. A. Scott we have
already referred to as
moving the Presbytery to
organise a congregation,
acting as Secretary to the
first Committee, and fill-
ing for years the office of
honorary precentor. His
chief work, however, was
done in the Sabbath
School, where he nobly
served the church by act-
ing for 13 years in the
capacity of Superinten-
dent, ably assisted by a
most efficient band of
Sabbath School teachers^
Mr. Mueller, now of
Auckland, also rendered
invaluable service by con-
ducting a Bible Class, by occupying the pulpit in the
minister's absence, and by preaching all around the
accessible outlying districts.
MR. MUELLER.
SPIKITUAL WANTS OF GEEYMOUTH. 181
All the members of the Kirk Session were impressed
with a sense of the largeness and importance of the
field of labour they had been given to superintend, and
the fewness of the spiritual labourers at work in it.
Instead, therefore, of complaining of the minister's
frequent enforced absences from the pulpit, they very
cordially afforded him every facility for visiting the outlying
districts, that he might preach the Gospel, administer the
Sacraments, and organize new congregations. Every man
gave ungrudgingly what help he could. " All true men,"
says Carlyle, "are soldiers in the same army to do battle
against the same enemy, the empire of darkness and
wrong."
" United we stand, divided we fall ;
It made and preserves us a nation."
Greymouth had a minister settled in it soon after
Hokitika. The Rev. John Hall had been there holding
services, that were much appreciated, in billiard rooms
of the hotels. So had the Eev. John Gow and the Rev. C-
Fraser, but we need hardly say that the spiritual wants of
the district were not met. Grumblings loud and deep
reached Christchurch from that place in 1869 about no
minister being forthcoming, although £98 had been locally
collected by Mr. Fraser for the purpose. Rev. Joshua
Mcintosh was sent to supply them with ordinances for a
time. Being an acceptable preacher the Greymouth
people took to him at once, and requested the Presbytery
of Canterbury to moderate in a call. The request was
granted, and a call to Mr. Mcintosh, moderated in by Mr.
Gow of Hokitika, and signed by a large number of Presby-
terians at Greymouth, was placed by the Presbytery in the
hands of the minister of Lyttelton at its meeting in
Christchurch, January 1870. It was at once accepted by
182 HISTORY OF N.Z. PKESBYTEEIAN CHURCH;
him, whereupon the Moderator did there and then induot
him into the pastoral charge of Grey mouth, investing him
with presbyterial powers for carrying on pastoral work in
the large and isolated district of Grey Valley.
Mr. Mcintosh was anxious to get to his new field of
labour as soon as possible, and in those days it was some-
what difficult to reach. So early in February 1870 he
almost chartered a small steamer called the " Charles
Edward." The arrangement was that the little boat
should take Government stores and other supplies to men
who were engaged on some public works not far from
Martin's Bay on the West Coast, and then go on to
Hokitika. But the " Charles Edward " sank as far as
the bottom of Martin's Bay would permit, and destroyed
most of the property belonging to Mr. Mcintosh. All
on board got safely to land, though not without some
difficulty. Mrs. Mcintosh, especially, had good reason to
remember the occurrence while she lived. On the bleak
shore, with no woman or other person possessed of even a
smattering of medical skill present, she gave birth to a
daughter. The child was called, after the district,
Martinette Percy Whitworth. In this place they were
found by the crew of a boat sent round to search for
them by the Government. Being rescued by the steamer
" Kennedy," they reached Greymouth on the morning of
Sabbath March 20th 1870. How true what Dr. G.
MacDonald says :
" Fair is this out-world of Thine,
But its nights are cold,
And the sun that makes it fair
Makes us soon so old."
For some months Divine service was conducted
morning and evening in the Volunteer Hall, and in the
EEV. JOS. McINTOSH AT GREYMOUTH. 183
afternoon at Pareoa and Cobden. A few months after-
wards a church site was procured in Hospital street, where
a beautiful church, capable of seating 200 persons and
costing £600, was opened for worship on Christmas Day.
With the inauguration of services in the new church
began the conduct of a Sabbath School by Mr. James
Savage, a teacher of great experience in the work, and one
whose services in the district were greatly appreciated.
He commenced the year with 11 pupils and ended it with
about 100. The school has been extremely fortunate in
always having a staff of godly and devoted teachers under
zealous and able superintendents. Mr. James Ring, the
present superintendent, has held the position for 16 years,
and the school to-day bears testimony to his efficient
management. The teachers number about 20, and are
all on the Communion roll of the church.
A young ladies' Bible class has for years been con-
ducted by Mr. John Bain, and so close is the bond of union
between teacher and pupils that the members only sever
their connection with the class when they join the teach-
ing staff of the school, remove from the town, or enter the
married state.
On the 19th October 1873, the first Session was formed
by the ordination of Messrs. Thomas Wright, Joseph
Anderson, F. H. Geisow, William Moutry, Samuel Hill,
and Thomas Jolly ; but, on account of the many changes
which inevitably take place through the flight of time,
not one of these is now a member of Session. A manse,
situated on Preston road was purchased for £400, but
afterwards was found to be unsuitable. It was, therefore,
sold, and in March 1877 the present manse in Tainui
street was bought at a cost of £540. As might have been
expected, Mr Mcintosh had a good deal of rough work to
184 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
do in those pioneer days. He visited the various mining
centres inland, when, there being no roads, travelling was
a work of extreme difficulty. Monthly services were held at
Marsden, where a good congregation was gathered and
maintained through the fostering care of Mrs. Russell,
Mr. John Bain, and Mr. H. Hewett. Ordinances were also
afforded at No Town, where a neat church was built and
opened free of debt through the exertions of Messrs.
Livingstone, Hastie, and M' Death. Many other places
also were visited, and thus the good seed, with patient
labour and sacrifice, was sown far and wide.
" But all through life I see a cross,
Where sons of God yield up their breath.
There is no gain, except by loss ;
There is no life, except by death ;
There is no vision, but by faith ;
Nor glory, but by bearing shame ;
Nor justice, but by taking blame.
And that eternal passion saith :
' Be emptied of glory, and right, and name.' "
How were matters meantime in Hokitika ? Mr.
Gow's ministry there was not of long duration. The
attractions of a city charge, and the education of his
family, induced him to accept a call to St. Andrew's,
Dunedin, in October 1871, and he left amid the sincere
regrets of an attached people. He had been less than five
years settled on the West Coast, but they were years of
earnest, honest, and hard work. As the father of Presby-
terianism in that part of the world he did much by his energy
and organizing zeal to place the church on a good foundation.
His preaching was solid, evangelical, and practical, and
brought blessing to many. Perhaps the fortiter in re came
occasionally into evidence, as when a complaint was once
made to the Presbytery that he had excommunicated, of
MK. GOW'S SUCCESS IN WESTLAND. 185
his own authority, a troublesome opponent. A bold and
courageous reformer of the Lutheran stamp, was much
needed in those days. A gentle Melanchthon on the West
Coast in early times would have been quite out of place.
He would not have accomplished half the work. Mr.
Gow had some of the qualities that go to make a man a
leader of men. He gathered around him many persons
of intellectual gifts and good social standing. Several
who now occupy leading positions in the Colony were once
connected with the Hokitika congregation, such as the
Solicitor- General of New Zealand. Few congregations
have had so many enterprising and talented members.
Some may explain this circumstance on the principle that :
" Maidens, like moths, are ever caught by glare,
And mammon wins its way where seraphs might despair."
We prefer rather to see in it the grace that consecrates
great natural talents and energies to Christ.
After a vacancy of eleven months the congregation
called the Rev. James Kirkland, of the Clutha Presbytery,
and he was inducted on September 10th 1872. Like his
predecessor he was an earnest and vigorous worker, who
kept the congregation well together. His preaching was
evangelistic as well as evangelical. Many during his
ministry were saved from wrath to come, and proved
themselves afterwards to be steadfast followers of Christ.
It was during his pastorate that Mr. D. W. Virtue,
now of Wellington, became attached to the Church. Like
Mr. Button he had excellent preaching gifts, which he
was always willing to exercise for the benefit of the con-
gregation, either in Hokitika or in the outlying districts.
The present manse was erected in Mr. Kirkland 's day;
but he never occupied it. He accepted a call to the Taieri
on October 4th 1875.
186
HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Ross about this time came to have a settled minister.
Tidings reached the Canterbury Presbytery that ecclesias-
tical matters there were
not in a satisfactory con-
dition. A Mr. Sutherland,
had been holding services
in Ross, but had gone. In
their difficulty the people
had engaged a Mr. Porter,
who had been a Baptist
minister ; and a rumour
was abroad that he was
seeking to alienate the
Church property. Accord-
ingly, the Presbytery sent
Rev. W. Hogg, of Amuri,
to visit the district and
report. Mr. Hogg, wearied
with his constant saddle
duties in North Canter-
bury, was not unwilling
for a change. Taking a
seat in Cobb's coach, he
proceeded by the overland route, and was overwhelmed with
admiration at the wondrous scenery of the ranges,
especially of the grand and terrific ruggedness of the
Bealey, and the wild luxuriance of the Teremakau avenue.
On the evening of the second day he reached Hokitika,
crossed the river and the Hospital lagoon to Jemmy Rea's
hostelry, mounted Jemmy's waggon, and, going by the
edge of the sea part of the way, soon reached Ross.
MB. D. W. VIRTUE.
Mr. Colin Campbell, manager of the New South
Wales Bank, received him on arrival, and showed him no
REV. W. HOGG AND ROSS PASTORATE. 187
little kindness. Having preached in the church morning
and evening on the Sabbath after he arrived to good
congregations, Mr. Hogg visited some of the miners in the
home of their operations. He was much struck with the
desolation that always attends the footsteps of the gold
digger. Trees of vast size lay heads and points ; while
boulders great and small washed clean of clay lay thickly
scattered over the ground. Indeed no clay could anywhere
be seen. Everything of that nature had been washed
away down to the solid rock, except in the neighbourhood
of the sluicing drains, which narrow and deep crossed and
recrossed in various directions. He found the miners as
eager for a yarn as they were for gold, especially about
other districts and other days. He experienced them, also,
in spite of their failings, quick to respond to the appeal
of distress, and comparatively free from the grosser vices.
After a few weeks the people of Ross expressed
to Mr. Fraser, then in Hokitika supplying the pulpit
vacated by Mr. Gow, a desire to call Mr. Hogg, and
requested him to moderate in a call. This he did on May
24th 1872. The call was signed by 167 individuals ; but
in six months afterwards a dozen of them were not to be
found in the Church. Now for the reason. Gold mining
in and around Ross was first what is called surfacing, i.e.,
washing away all the sand and clay on the surface.
Afterwards deep shafts descending as low as 300ft. were
sunk, and the debris sent up to the top to be put through
sluice boxes. " The Cassius " was one of the chief
of these, giving access to a mine rich in gold. It
was 850ft. deep, and drained by a powerful pump, which
worked incessantly day and night. On July 26th 1872 a
miner working below incautiously struck his pick into the
wall that separated this mine from an old claim, when, lo !
188 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
a huge volume of water rushed in and submerged every-
thing, the workmen barely escaping with their lives. The
steam whistle which was set agoing on that occasion
sounded the death knell of the Ross goldfield. Many a
good cause has been injured in a similar way.
" Evil, like a rolling stone upon the mountain top,
A child may first impel, a giant cannot stop."
Not anticipating that prosperity was about to vanish
from Ross the congregation had set about the enlargement
of the four-roomed cottage that served for a manse, and
Mr. Hogg had brought over his family in September.
Seeing how matters stood, he worked hard to keep a congre-
gation together, but it was not to be. Gold being no longer
found in payable quantities, the people at Ross and all
down the coast began to flock out of the district, many taking
tbeir houses with them. Two years previous to this, when he
first came over, there were in the region south of Hokitika
more than 1000 people. Now you might travel for miles
without seeing a human being. It seemed that, just
as the Anglican and Wesleyan clergymen had to flee
from Ross, so the Presbyterian minister should have to beat
a retreat. Determined, however, not to give in easily, Mr.
Hogg betook himself to work among the " Beach
Combers." These were men who scattered themselves
over the beach, especially near the mouths of the great
rivers, and after a storm washed the sand thrown up by
the action of the waves and deposited along high water
mark. Tbe few old diggers who had found payable gold
in the bush, and who were engaged making aqueducts and
bringing powerful jets of water to bear upon their claims,
also received his attention.
In those days when Presbyterial business fell to be
transacted, the Canterbury Presbytery would adjourn to
FAILURE OF ROSS MINING. 189
meet at Hokitika on a certain date. The day specified
coming round. Revs. Gow and Mcintosh with Mr. A.
Bonar, elder, met and transacted the business, and after-
wards adjourned to meet at Christchurch. This trans-
ference of authority had the recommendation, at least, of
obviating the difficulties of travel, and was adopted as a
provisional arrangement. One naturally asks, if the
Westlanders could suitably uphold the dignity of the
Presbytery of Canterbury, what was to prevent them from
forming themselves into a Presbytery of Westland ? And
so they eventually did. The first meeting of the Westland
Presbytery took place on January 7th 1874.
The members who constituted the court were : —
Eev. J. KIRKLAND, minister of Hokitika.
Rev. JOS. McINTOSH, minister of Greymouth.
Rev. W. HOGG, minister of Ross.
Mr. ANDREW ORR, elder, Hokitika.
Mr. F. H. TUESSON, elder, Greymouth.
At a meeting of the Westland Presbytery, held
soon after its formation. Rev. W. Hogg tendered his
resignation of Ross. His brethren thought that things
were at their worst, and were likely soon to mend.
It was agreed, therefore, that his resignation should
lie on the table, and that he should turn his attention to
the district of which Staiiord was the centre. So Mr. Hogg
got enlarged a little manse at Stafford, in which an
evangelist, Mr James Laughton, who was working the
district, had been living, and removing his family thither,
toiled here for two more years. The prospects of gold did not
190 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
brighten. Long before the end of that period the Stafford
and Waimea diggers had begun to think that tlieir work
was done.
Kumara at this time leaped into prominence. It
happened in this way. Thoroughly discouraged, the
Stafford people began to ask, " How are the Houlahans
getting on at the Teremakau ?" If report was correct they
were getting on exceedingly well. It was said they were
acquiring gold in more ways than one. A confidential
whisper reached Stafford that they were engaged in the
illicit distillation of poteen. Instantly there was a
stampede for the Teremakau, and again Mr. Hogg was left
high and dry. He tried Reefton for three months, but
that place was not yet ripe for a charge. Like his English
Church predecessor, Rev. Mr. Cross, he had to give up
the attempt. Coming back he selected a site for a church
and manse at the scene of the recent rush. This was a
short time afterwards exchanged for one in the heart of
the new diggings, on which a small church was built,
while a manse in keeping was erected some distance from
it, up on the Hokitika and Greymouth roads. The huts
and tents in the new township increased rapidly, forming
a considerable street which ran down to the selection of
Mr. Seddon, now the Hon. Dr. Seddon, Premier of New
Zealand. Mr. Hogg tells us that the new goldfield, which
is now probably the largest hydraulic-sluicing mining
centre in New Zealand, got its name through Mr. Mueller,
the Chief Surveyor.
Mr. Hogg had enough of the West Coast. His was an
isolated position. Clergy and laity both deserted him.
When Mr. Kirkland departed for the Taieri and Mr.
Mcintosh returned to Canterbury, he was the only minister
left in Westland. Other labourers came to the Province ;
MR. HOGG LEAVES FOR SYDNEY. 191
but hig work he viewed as done. On October 8th -1876
he sailed by the Wakatipu for Sydney, ready to say, in spite
of all his trying experiences in Amuri and Westland,
" Old memory may bring me her treasures
From the land of the blossoms in May,
But to me the hill daisies are dearer
And the gorse on the river-bed grey.
The speargrass and cabbage-tree yonder.
The honey-bell'd flax in its bloom,
The dark of the bush on the sidelings,
The snow-crested mountains that loom
Golden and grey in the sunlight.
Par up in the cloud-fringed blue
Are the threads, with old memory weaving,
And the line of my life running thro' ;
And the wind of the morning calling
Has ever a voice for me
Of hope for the land of the dawning
In the golden years to be."
192 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE DIFFICULTIES OF ECCLESIASTICAL PIONEERING.
Undefined Parishes— Trudging On Foot — Bullock Riding — Clerical
First Attempts at Riding — A Probationer's Troubles- Fording
Rivers — Stuck Fast on a Bridge — Lost in the Bush— Places of
Worship — Wairau Massacre — Attack on the Pukekohe Church —
How Dr. Elmslie got his War Medal— A Mixed Membership —
The Wild Grapes of Judah.
This chapter is intended as a pleasant break in the
monotony inseparably associated with ancient history,
while presenting, as in a picture, important features of
early times. Numerous references have already been made
to the trying experiences of our ecclesiastical pioneers, but
perhaps it will be interesting to gather together here a few
specimens of the difficulties with which they had to
contend. Modern church workers may learn what they
owe to them, and how comparatively smooth their own
path is. It would give a feeble conception of their trials
to say that their paths were studded with thorns or to
exclaim,
" Had you seen these roads before they were made
Y'ou'd lift up your hands and bless General Wade."
They had no such luxuries. Precedent did not hamper their
movements. Walking in the footsteps of those who had
gone before while threading dangerous ways was a pleasure
denied them. Physically and metaphorically they had to
carve out new paths for themselves. The country was
well-nigh impassable. In very many places it was covered
TRUDGING ON FOOT. 193
with dense, tangled, primitive bush. This bush was com-
posed of giants of the forest, intermingled with smaller
trees, shrubs, creepers, and climbers, supplejack and bush-
lawyers, parasites and epiphytes, the whole forming a dense
mass of exuberant, matted vegetation that made a passage
through it next to impossible. The manuka, that grew
profusely in the open, was harder to penetrate than the bush.
Fire and the settler's axe are rapidly making these difficulties
things of the past ; and in forestless land, perhaps, creating
others of a different kind to take their place. Once all the
gorges were filled with this native bush and the hills clothed
with verdant foliage from base to summit. In the low-lying
plains travellers had to encounter the marshes and raupo
swamps, the Maoriheads, the flax bushes, and all the rank
vegetation that delights in the lowlands of an undrained
country. There were no roads through its rugged, untamed
wilderness. There were no bridges over its many wide and
dangerous rivers. Of what Europeans would call civilised
dwellings there were none. Few and far between were the
spots of which an explorer might sing at sundown, after a
weary tramp, in the words of Moore :
" I knew by the smoke that so gracefully curled
Above the green elms that a cottage was near,
And I said, " If there's peace to be found in the world,
A heart that was humble might hope for it here."
A little of such a country would have been to our pioneers
a feast. What circumstances allotted to them proved a
surfeit. The Eev. Mr. Macfarlane ministered to all denomi-
nations in the Wellington district, and crossing Cook's
Strait, paid an occasional visit to the South Island.
The Rev. D. Bruce found in the scattered units of the
Presbyterian Church about Auckland a similarly wide
field awaiting him, and took the care of all the Presby-
194 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
terian churches on his shoulders. The Rev. C. Eraser's
parish for a time was the Province of Canterbury. The Rev.
G. Barclay, who took South Canterbury off his hands, was
accustomed to say that his parish was bounded on the north
by the Rangitata river, on the South by the Waitaki, on the
West by the Southern Alps, and on the East by the Pacific
Ocean. Indeed he had doubts sometimes whether there
was not an obligation resting on him to risk his life in the
mountain torrents, and, crossing some saddle of the snow-
clad ranges, to find out what the neglected settlers were
doing on the West Coast. The Rev. W. Hogg, who took over
Amuri district, at the northern end of Mr. Eraser's first
parish, viewed his field of labour as extending from the
Upper Clarence to the Hurunui, and from the Spencer
Range to the sea. Seven new charges have been formed
out of Rev. T. Norrie's original parish. In fact the early
ministers of New Zealand were like the shining orbs of
heaven, whose spheres of illumination are determined
by the intensity and volume of their own light, and the
atmospheric conditions of the dark worlds by which they
are surrounded.
We need only mention a few specimens of the leading
difficulties with which they had to contend. Eirst in order
will come trudging on foot. Now-a-days, in moving from
place to place, the minister has often great difficulty in making
up his mind whether he shall go by train, or coach, or
bicycle, or taking his own horse drive or ride, or walk the
distance on foot. Eifty years ago he was delivered from
all worry of that kind. He had only to choose between
ridmg and walking. In many cases he was mercifully
preserved from even that mental strain, and, by force of
circumstances, tied down to the most primitive method of
progression. The minister of Amuri itinerated for years
CLERICAL FIRST ATTEMPTS AT RIDING.
195
through his extensive parish on foot with his staff in his hand
and his swag on his back, travelling often fifteen and some-
times twenty miles a day. Frequently he was absent for
a month, leaving the occupant of a cob house that served
for a manse, singing by times in pathetic tones : —
" For there's nae luck aboot the house,
There's nae luck ava ;
There's little pleesure in the hoose
When oor guidman's awa."
Rev. D. Hogg's experiences, therefore, at Wanganui
were not exceptional. His clothes were often torn by bush
lawyers, or covered with a
tenacious clay that it was
difficult to brush off without Jl^'' '
bringing away the face of the
cloth. He came not to care
what sort of lower garments
he had on, if they were strong
and hung well together. If
he happened to be wearing
anything respectable, such as
his Sunday trousers, he stuffed
them down into great boots.
Even then the mud would get
in. Sometimes the mud got into
the boots, and sometimes the
boots got into the mud. It was easy for him to plant his
foot down, but it was often very difficult to lift it up.
Frequently the foot came away without the boot. His
early riding experiences were not much of an improvement.
He used to say that his first horse was a bullock, and that
he was the most faithful and sure-footed animal he ever
rode.
" Better is the ass that carries us than the horse that throws us."
REV. D. HOGG.
196 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
He never reared, nor plunged, nor shied, nor bolted, nor
was guilty of any of the wanton acts for which his fellows
of the undivided hoof are distinguished. As for stumbling,
he had a strong aversion to that. He only slid from one
hole into another. But when his master had enumerated
all his good qualities, he generally added the rider, " he
was uncommonly slow." The time was not altogether lost.
Most of the minister's study was done on the bullock's
back. There books were read and sermons were written.
Little other opportunity of doing so existed. Much of
the pastor's time was spent in the saddle. His house
was a four-roomed cottage, filled with romping children,
who made meditation difficult. He was always well pleased
when he could on his bullock accomplish both the outward
and return journey in one day. Frequently it took him the
greater part of a week to pay one distant visit. Sometimes
the driver wanted to go one way and the bullock another,
and it was some time before they came to an understanding.
In most cases the bullock was right. He knew by
instinct the right path to take better than his master.
This bullock was curiously caparisoned. We are sorry
that we cannot treat our readers to a photograph of
the turn-out. An old sack served for a saddle. The
stirrups were made of plaited flax. The bridle was formed
of the same material. If it broke there was no danger ;
the animal simply stood still till another was obtained
from a flax bush by the wayside. A huge stick of manuka
in the hand of the driver completed the curious outrig.
Some young ministers just from Home created great
merriment in the early days by their awkward attempts
at learning the art of riding. Some of them came
from the city, and had never been on a horse's back.
Mr. A. was a fine young man socially, intellectually,
A PROBATIONER'S TROUBLES. 197
and spiritually. He had all the qualifications that go to
make up a successful Colonial minister and missionary
but one, and it was very important. He knew nothing
about riding a horse. He was sent to an out-district of
Wellington Presbytery where ability to ride was a sine qua
non. With a little oats he caught his steed, and after a
few ineffectual efforts to mount, got into the saddle with
fear and trembling. As he passed through the village at a
slow walk, with his trousers up and his legs bare, holding
on by the mane with both hands, the boys going to school
cried to one another, " My eye, can't that cove ride ?"
" But finding soon a smoother road
Beneath her well-shod feet,
The snorting beast began to trot,
Which galled him in the seat."
At that moment the horse heard or fancied he heard
something in the bush, and sprung suddenly forward.
Alas for the new chum parson ! He lost his hat, he lost
his seat, he lost his horse, he lost his way, and after
wandering about for a time, found his road home, where the
first question he asked was, " My horse is lost, how shall
we manage to find him?" As a matter of fact, the horse
had arrived hours before, exciting a good deal of anxiety at
the manse as to the fate of his rider. Some time afterwards
he had occasion to pay a pastoral visit, and got safely to his
destination, knocked, and was invited in by the lady who
opened the door. " But what about the horse?" said the
minister. •' Oh, just throw the bridle over a post," she
said, " and there will be someone here directly who shall
look after him." "But," rejoined the minister, with a
puzzled air, " I don't know exactly how you mean me to
fasten the horse. Will you do it for me ?" There
happened to be some young ladies in that house who were
up to all kinds of mischief. They proposed next morning
198 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
to give him a lesson on riding. They brought him at a
break-neck pace over the roughest country they could find,
and " stayed not for brake and stopped not for stone," the
young gentleman thinking every moment would be his
last. When he got home, he went straight to bed. Next
morning he made no appearance at the breakfast table.
A Westland minister used to make excursions down
the coast that were attended with considerable danger.
If the bluffs were sanded, he considered himself fortunate.
Riding was then comparatively easy ; though on one
occasion in these circumstances he found himself enveloped
in a big breaker, his garments drenched, and his pockets
filled with sea sand. The levelling propensities of the
sand he then found carried rather far for his personal
comfort. If there was no sand thrown up upon the
shore matters were much worse. To round the blufifs
under these conditions meant leaping his horse from
crag to crag and boulder to boulder. Unless the horse
was used to it, the feat was attended with risk, and
the horse soon became thoroughly exhausted.
" Riding and Tying " was on the main roads a common
mode of progression, when two men had only one
horse between them. One would ride on quickly for say
twenty minutes, tie up the horse by the side of the road,
and push forward on foot. When his fellow came up to
the horse he mounted, rode on, passed the traveller in
advance, and tying up the horse again left it for him, and
so on. Each took his turn at riding and walking, and
good progress was made. They needed, however, to be
agreeable companions who were disposed fairly and
amicably to portion out the use of the animal between them.
The Westland mimister's experiences at accommodation
houses were often trying, if not amusing. Once the food
NUMEKOUS HARDSHIPS. 199
was served up in the pot in which it had been cooked. The
plates were of rusty tin, the knives were without handles,
and the drinking cups were tin pannikins. The bed was
in an outhouse, and was formed by placing " a little straw
on a hard board, where insect powder would have been a
desideratum, and from which a man rose in the morning,
less rested than when he lay down."
Yet those early days had their pleasures. Everywhere
he was kindly received. Everywhere he preached the
Gospel as opportunity offered, and left the result with God.
" We micht be kind o' towzy in the days o' auld langsyne,
Yet we had hamely customs that we couldna thole to tine ;
Our meat was braxy, tattie, an' brose', while to oor faith we clung,
The Highland creed was staunch and leal, when Jock and I were
young."
The probationer has always had his troubles. Mr. B.
was no exception. He had no need to draw upon the
equine species for the discipline of life. Getting through
the six years' work and worry of his collegiate career was
a struggle, pecuniary and otherwise. With little Greek
and less Hebrew he got licensed, and resolved to show
vacant congregations that he had not a vacant or unsettled
mind. When preaching in his student days, he used to
receive many flattering compliments. Somehow or other
these all now ceased. He began to make anxious inquiry
about vacancies, but, strange to say, no vacancy made
any inquiry about him. He managed to get together
three sermons, which he carried about with him. Their
good points were not appreciated. They were not even
seen. One on " The Withered Hand " seemed only to
illustrate the paralysis of the limb into which Jesus put
life. Another on " The Higher Criticism," which cost him
much trouble, made many look as fierce as a Canterbury
200 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
farmer who has a hundred acres of wheat out in a raging
nor'-wester, and led many to ask, " Does the fellow suppose
that a farmer cannot use his dray until he learns who put
it together and what woods were used in its construction,
and in what proportion ?" A third, on " The Judgment
Day," instead of turning his auditors, as he anticipated,
into the channel of answering for their own imperfections,
set them wondering, " How will this man hold up his head
at last and say that he preached the Gospel." He tried
all sorts of candidates' tricks in vain. He quoted from
Burns when he preached to Scotchmen, and made a
handsome reference to the Green Isle as,
" First flower of the earth, first gem of the sea,"
when he addressed a congregation in which Irishmen
prevailed. He even carried lollies for the children. All
to no purpose. To his chagrin he saw other licentiates
receive the call he longed for, and settle down and get
married. One congregation thought his voice a trifle weak,
another, his delivery feeble, another would have liked
him better if be had not stuck so closely to the bit of
paper. Some heard that he was delicate in health, some
that he preached in other places and was rejected, until
he concluded that if a candidate could only drop down
from the moon, preach, and then return into the woods
until after the congregational meeting, he would stand a
good chance of being elected.
It seemed a pity that to his other hardships should be
added those of horsemanship. Yet so it was. In the
beginning of his protracted probationeering career, the task
was set him of riding sixteen miles on a warm day inside
two hours. He was dressed in his Sunday best. The
sexton caught, groomed, and saddled the horse, and the
DIFFICULTY IN FORDING RIVERS. 201
elder instucted him bow to elevate out of danger, with pins
and strings, his long coat tails. But just as he was about
to be hoisted into the saddle, he suddenly remembered that
he had on his best black trousers. For this his chaperon
was puzzled to find a remedy. The minister's wife,
however, was equal to the occasion. She came out and
suggested the pinning of sheets of brown paper over them.
That day the people who saw him never forgot. That day
he never forgot himself. His experiences were such, that
he vowed, should he never get a congregation, not to
accept a call to one which necessitated riding. A motto
of his ever afterwards was :
" Horses and poets should be fed, not pampered."
Fording rivers was another difficulty. New Zealand
is a well-watered country. It is intersected with streams.
Its high mountains swept with storms that bring sometimes
snow, sometimes rain, and sometimes hot north- westers,
mean numerous and fluctuating rivers. Anyone who has
been to Mt. Cook in the early part of the excursion season
will know that the many " creeks " that cross the road
leading thither may be innocent-looking streams one
moment and half-an-hour afterwards may be raging
torrents, rolling huge boulders along as if they were pebbles,
with a sound like thunder, and endangering trap, horse,
and human life. There and elsewhere fords are constantly
changing. Often they disappear altogether, and a new
one, with careful experiment, has to be found. Frequently,
what is more dangerous still, the old one is broken up into
deep holes that are unknown even to the experienced and
frequent passer-by. There are snags, too, and shifting
sands, and other dangers to be encountered. In recent
times many of these rivers have been bridged. Many
of them are at present being made safe for traffic by
202 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
engineering skill, but fancy the solitary wayfarer, in ante-
pontine days, being obliged in all seasons and in all weathers
to find and cross a ford as best he could. Every district
has stories of accidents met with and lives lost. The minister
who had to pay a visit to a dying man, or hold a service
on the other side of the river, and who was desirous to
fulfil his engagements was exposed to special danger.
The more conscientious and faithful he was the more
daring he became, and the greater risks he ran. A few
examples will suffice.
A minister, who is still living, and has a wholesome
dread of New Zealand rivers, as well as a lively sense of
the providential care of God, had to cross a snow river far
from the hills. It was summer time. The sun was
shining brightly, and all nature was still. There had been
no rain for many weeks. No danger wliatever was antici-
pated by the joyful traveller. He knew the ford well, and
had crossed it again and again. When he neared it he saw
that the water was muddy, and then he realised for the first
time that a north-wester had been blowing on the hills
above. Not fearing any danger, he urged his horse forward
and entered the stream. He had not gone more than
half-way across when the water began to come into the
trap, but fancying the worst was passed, he pushed on.
Then the horse's fore feet lost the bottom, and he began
to swim. The faithful animal who was used to the water
would have taken his driver out all right under ordinary
circumstances, but a wheel of the vehicle struck a sub-
merged root and turned it over in a strongly flowing
stream seven feet deep. As the wheel rose the occupant
leaning hard on that side managed, he knew not how, to
keep uppermost, and when the lower wheel rested on a
portion of the obstruction below and the upper wheel spun
DANGERS ENCOUNTERED. 203
round with the current at the surface in a horizontal
position, the minister perched on the top spun round
with it like a coin on a wheel of fortune. Fortunately he
held on to the reins. This helped to steady his seat and
to save the horse from drowning by keeping his nose out
of the water. In this awkward predicament he remained
for half-an-hour until a man who was ploughing on the
farther bank slowly loosed his horses, leisurely rode
down to the margin, and with a rope brought out the man,
the horse, and the vehicle. As the latter was safely dragged
up on the dry shingle minus cushions, rug and all baggage
and loose belongings, the matter-of-fact rescuer who was
accustomed to such occurrences at that crossing exclaimed,
" That's worth two quids," i.t;., two pounds sterUng. Shortly
after the minister resumed his journey meditating in
soaked garments on the uncertainty of life and all things
here below.
Take another instance. Rev. W. Hogg of Golds-
borough wears a scar on his head the result of a wound he
received in a river nearly forty years ago. The Waiau
has always been known to be a dangerous river. He was
riding across it one day fearing nothing, having crossed it
a short time previously lower down. All he remembers is
that the bottom suddenly sheered down and the horse was
swept off his feet and himself washed out of the saddle.
When he became conscious he found himself clinging to
the bridle and stirrups, kicking with his feet and vainly
trying to touch the bottom. Partly he struggled ashore
and partly he was washed ashore, wet, cold, stunned and
bleeding, and more dead than alive. For a long time after-
wards a stream two feet deep was to him a source of terror.
Rev. Mr. McKinney says : —
" In returning from Waipu I came home by the West Coast,
visiting on my way many solitary families. I came by a new track,
204 HISTOEY OF N.Z. PKESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
which was lately cut, and when I reached a certain tidal river I
missed the proper crossing, and met in consequence with considerable
difiSculty. I put my horse into the river, intending to let him go
over first, and then swim after him, dragging my things on an
impromptu raft. But the horse sank in the mangrove swamp, and
all my efforts proved in vain to rescue him. I sat down gloomily
enough, watching the rising tide and my poor old horse, as I
conceived, hopelessly drowning. But after I had sat for three hours
and just as I had given up all hope of saving him, although the road
is one you might not meet a traveller on for weeks, there came up
three men, provided with a long rope and everything fitted for the
rescue of a horse, and soon he was safe and sound on dry land
again."
Darkness coming on Mr. McKinney slept that night
in the open fern without any supper, nay with the mos-
quitoes vigorously making a supper of him.
Few have more tales to tell of awkward predica-
ments in the crossing of rivers than Rev. G. Barclay, the
father of South Canterbury Pres-
byterianism. The streams that
flow out from the Mt. Cook Range
were many a time nearly the '•''■*^
death of him. Once when going - f
from Geraldine to the Mackenzie
Country with a pair of horses, one
of the animals became restive in
the flooded Opihi and got his foot
entangled in the wheel of the
vehicle. No one was near, and Mr. ^^^' °- b^RCLay.
Barclay after getting out stood in
the foaming torrent and did Avhat he could to extricate
the limb. When this proved futile he held up the horse's
head as long as he could, but was obliged at last to let him
go under and drown. Detaching the other horse from his
dead companion, he mounted him and rode to his place of
UNSAFE BRIDGES. 205
destination as if nothing unusual had happened. On
another occasion he went phmging over a steep embank-
ment six feet deep into the river, and escaped himself but
horse and gig were swept like brushwood down the stream,
On still another his life was saved by his noticing just in
time the danger he was running and jumping out as his
horses plunged down a steep incline into a swollen river.
Once he was found lying insensible in a paddock by the
road side with his horse grazing quietly at a distance after
clearing a high fence and throwing its rider. Sometimes
it was the horse that went over the fence and left the rider
and sometimes it was the rider who went over the fence
and left the horse. Though good enough friends on the
whole there was often a considerable distance placed
between them. Such was pastoral work in those days.
It was carried on under difficulties. Mr. Barclay often
preached with torn garments and bleeding hands and the
water pumping up out of his boots as he emphasised with
the lower limb some weighty truth. Whatever may have
been thought of the sermon delivered on those occasions,
the preacher was far from being dry.
Rev. John Macky had many similar experiences.
His faithful horse "Jack," given him by his brother
James, often sank in the mud to the saddle girths and set
his bespattered rider ruminating that " a horse is a vain
thing for safety." Once he sank through the planking of
a bridge. Bridges were not so carefully constructed in
those days as they are now. On the way to Howick to
conduct a Sabbath service his horse's legs stuck fast in
one of the bridges over which he had to pass, and out of it
he could not be got. Here was a predicament. All who
intimately knew Mr. Macky can fancy his vexation at the
thought of breaking his appointment. In his extremity
20G HISTORY OF N.Z. PEESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
be appealed for help to a Maori who with his wife
happened to be near. The Native answered " How much
the utu?" Mr. Macky handed him two shillings, and
they applied their united strength to relieve the horse.
This failing his wife was appealed to. Her response was
similar, "How much the ^Uu T' The minister having
disbursed his last two shillings, the three together managed
to place his horse on terra firma, and the Presbyterians
of Howick had their service that day as usual. Mr.
Macky used to tell this story with glee. It will be well
if through it we learn to shun the mercenary spirit of the
two aborigines, and copying the perseverance of this
faithful pioneer to resolve :
" We will not from the helm to sit and weep,
But keep our course, though the rough winds say, no."
Perseverance amid difficulties in those days was not
confined to the male sex. The Rev. D. Bruce, who had
many a lively adventure in his early Church Extension
tours, was once preaching at Papakura, before Mr Norrie's
arrival, when a woman from a distance presented her
child for baptism. She turned out to be Mrs. M'Nicol of
Wairoa, the wife of the pioneer settler of that place. Her
husband, who, with the rest of the first settlers, reached
their home by water, had told her that he had brought her
to that district to make sure that she w'ould not run away
from him. He evidently had not reckoned on the metal
of which she was made. On this occasion she carried her
baby through a dense bush, over unbridged creeks and
rivers, and across muddy swamps, and after baptism
trudged back again. Wairoa was afterwards one of the
fields whicli the Rev. Mr. Norrie found most difficult to
reach, and being reached most difficult to leave. He has
lively recollections of having spent a night in the bush,
while returning from one of his distant pastoral tours.
LOST IN THE BUSH. 207
To be lost in the bush was once in New Zealand no
uncommon occurrence. Sometimes as in the following
instance it was attended with loss of life under melancholy
circumstances. Rev. David Hamilton, son of Rev. D.
Hamilton, the saintly minister of York street, Belfast, and
brother of Rev. Dr. T. Hamilton, President of the Queen's
College, Belfast, was a minister of Avondale near Auck-
land. He was greatly beloved for his personal character
and for his work's sake.
" He had kept
The whiteness of his soul, and thus men over him wept."
On Wednesday July 9th 1873, he left home on horseback
for a preaching and visiting tour in the ranges between
Avondale and the Manukau Heads. He conducted service
at Huia distant fifteen miles from Avondale on the 10th,
and proceeded to Manukau Heads five miles further on the
following day, Thursday, but never reached them. As he
did not turn up at Avondale to conduct service next
Sunday morning, alarm was excited.
Two settlers at once started off in search of their
missing pastor. On Monday morning these were followed
by two others. During the day a meeting was held at
Avondale at which four additional persons volunteered
their services. Two constables joined in the search, and
twenty men from the sawmills at Cornwallis, Huia, and
Manukau Heads scattered themselves all over the bush.
Eventually the horse was found entangled in supplejacks, and
tracks were discovered leading from it which were soon lost.
Not hoping to find Mr. Hamilton alive in such weather the
searchers grew discouraged and returned to their homes.
On Thursday, exactly a week after he disappeared, Rev. D.
Bruce and Mr. Buchanan rode to Huia and ofifered a
reward of £25 to anyone who should find Mr. Hamilton
208 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
dead or alive. Stimulated by this a number went out
who had not yet taken part in the search, and on the
following Sabbath, July 20th, three men found his body
in a stream within half-an-hour's walk of the mill at
Manukau Heads. One arm was broken and the remains
considerably bruised and decomposed. Some suppose
that the deceased left his horse and going forward in
search of the path heard the sound of the mill and made
for it, but in the darkness fell over a precipice on a rock
and was killed, and that his body was washed by a flood
to the place where it was found. Others fancy that he
died from exposure, and that his body received the injuries
afterwards, when it was being swept along by the torrent.
The weather was now so stormy that it was found im-
possible to get the body conveyed by water to Auckland.
Ten men, however, volunteered to carry it overland to
Avondale, a distance of 20 miles. The road being a mere
bush track through wild and unbroken country, the
journey was accomplished by these settlers with their
burden under considerable difficulties. A sorrowing
people erected a monument over his grave at a cost of
£107, upon which they carved the following inscription: —
" In memory of Rev. David Hamiltoa, clergyman of the pariah,
who, after a pastorate of 15 months, died from exposure in the
Manukau forest, in the month of July, 1875 ; aged 29 years.
" Erected by his parishioners in affectionate remembrance of
hia goodness as a man and his devotedness as a Christian minister."
" For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." — Phil. 1., 21.
How true what Kingsley says,
" But men must work and women must weep
Though storms be sudden and waters deep
And the harbour bar be moaning."
PLACES OF WORSHIP. 209
The task of finding a suitable place in which to hold
religious services was a serious difficulty in early days. The
school-houses, now so numerous and so useful in outlying
districts, had at first, of course, no existence, and for a long
time were few and far between. To erect permanent
structures for worship even in considerable centres of
population was a work that required much planning.
Suitable material wasn't always at hand. The necessary
mechanical skill wasn't always available. Worse than all,
the early settlers, who at the beginning were few and widely
scattered, had a large outlay and slow returns, and could
give but httle pecuniary help. The first church erected at
Wanganui was built of toi-toi, some of the builders like the
Natives living in whares constructed of the same material.
Other churches, though more enduring, were of a very primi-
tive and inartistic chararter. Private houses were largely
drawn upon, settlers, like Mrs. Brown of Akaroa, sometimes
taking down the middle wall of partition to accommodate
the few Colonists who came from the district round about
to worship God according to the custom of their fathers.
Then pioneering ministers utilised the block houses of the
military, the court-houses of the civil authorities, school-
houses when available, and when all else failed fell back
upon the house not made with hands, which Nature has
herself with inimitable skill lighted, ventilated, carpeted,
and canopied.
Many an interruption in the labour of our early
missionaries and ministers took place through the Maori
disturbance. Attacks by the Natives were made, property
plundered, much needed gospel work brought to an end, and
lives often lost. The Wairau Massacre as initiating the
Maori War may be taken as a fair specimen of the savagery
of the aborigines and the danger run by the pioneers of
civilisation and the gospel.
210 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The immediate cause of the first unfortunate collision
with the Natives was the survey of lands in the Wairau
Valley on the part of the New Zealand Company. Te
Kauparaha accompanied by his fighting chief Rangihaeata,
a most ferocious specimen of humanity, appeared on the
scene, and claiming the soil by right of conquest protested
against the survey, and said the lands were not included
in the original agreement. Captain Wakefield said they
were and that the survey must go on, using threats, it is
said, as to what should happen to Rauparaha if it was
interfered with. This proceeding was contrary to the
established rule by which all action was to be stayed till
disputed titles were investigated by Mr. Spain, the
Government commissioner. Failing to get redress of their
grievances, these chiefs burned down some of the surveyors'
huts, which were built and thatched with material gathered
from the disputed territory. This led to an appeal to Mr.
F. A. Thompson, the pohce magistrate, who issued a
warrant for their arrest and came himself with four
constables. The force was increased to forty-nine by the
addition of labourers, most of whom did not know how to
to fire a gun. Some were armed, and some were not.
The idea was to overawe the Maoris by a display of force.
It was only a display, and the Natives had already grown used
to an exhibition of rusty swords and old firearms. On the road
they meet Pauha, nephew of Rauparaha, who undertakes,
if the members of the expedition return, to bring both chiefs
down to the beach, but his offer is refused. They follow up
the Maoris into their retreat. A few unarmed cross the Tua
Marina River, a branch of the Wairau on the left bank, over
a bridge of punts suppHed by the Natives. An altercation
ensues between Mr. Thompson and Rauparaha. The latter
refuses to allow himself to be arrested. The Natives say
that they are waiting for Mr. Spain, and Mr. Clark, Chief
THE WAIRAU MASSACRE. 211
Protector of the aborigines, and do not want to fight.
The police magistrate produces handcuffs. Some of
the Maoris threaten to shoot. Captain Wakefield calls
over the armed men. The Maoris thereupon fire with
effect from the adjoining bush and the men on the bridge
ineffectually reply. What could the latter do ? They
were badly armed, and badly led, and the Natives had the
advantage of a dense bush, from which unseen they
poured a deadly fire on the advancing troops. Meantime
the unarmed attempt to recross, and collide with those
coming from the other side. Among the Englishmen
there is a general stampede. The armed labourers rush
back up the hill firing wildly as they retreat, and would
not form on the hill, or be amenable to any control.
Maori bullets now tear up the ground and lay many a
white man low. A company composed mostly of the
leaders of the expedition finding themselves left behind
with scarcely any arms consider it their best plan to
surrender to the Natives, and show a white flag.
Threatening Maoris surround them. Rauparaha comes
up and in response to the request of the Englishmen cries
kail (peace), but the fighting chief afterwards arrives, and
reminding Rauparaha of the death of his daughter Te
Ronga, whom a shot during the second volley of the
Englishmen had laid low, brains with his consent the
entire company. The fact that the Europeans had
surrendered and begged for mercy counted for nothing.
Was it any wonder that a reign of terror was at once
established in every settlement in New Zealand?
Perhaps the siege stood by the settlers in Pukekohe
Church in 1863 will as much as anything show that
office-bearers and members of the church did not in days
gone by sleep on a bed of roses.
212
HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
In the eavly sixties Pukekohe was one of the out-
posts of European settlement in Auckland The roads
leading thither were mere bridle-tracks through the dense
forest, yet as early as 1857 Rev. T. Norrie visited the
district and held service in Mr. Dearness's house. In
■'^./.^f*J ?;<^;
PUKEKOHE EAST CHURCH.
1863 a church was erected, a wooden building 28ft. x 18ft.
with a small porch and surmounted by a belfry. The
Maori War was then on the eve of breaking out afresh.
The Natives of Taranaki had succeeded in gaining the
sympathy of the people of the Waikato in their land
troubles, and the idea was again taking possession of the
Natives that they could and would drive all the Europeans
into the sea. On the European side large forces were being
ATTACK ON PUKEKOHE CHURCH. 213
gathered, and extensive preparations made for the coming
struggle. The first definite advance was made on Sunday,
12th July 1868, when General Cameron with 2000 men
crossed the Maungatawhiri from the Queen's Redoubt.
Rev. T. Norrie went to the Redoubt that morning but
could hold no service as so few men were left in camp.
Having been assured that steps had been taken to protect
the settlers, he rode over to Pukekohe and held service in
the afternoon. As the people were leaving the church a
detachment of about 300 soldiers marched past and
occupied Tuakau that evening. The next day the Maoris
made a hostile demonstration at Meri Meri, and on the
Wednesday they shot a settler and his son, named
Meredith, on the outskirts of the Pukekohe settlement.
News of this was hurriedly sent round, and the settlers
gathered into Mr. Runciman's house, and the next day
left for Drury where the Presbyterian Church was pressed
into service, a great many families being crowded into it.
On the Friday an escort was attacked and cut to pieces at
Shepherd's Bush, the dead and wounded being brought to
Drury, and a battle was fought at Pokeno Valley. War
had begun in earnest. Seldom has a congregation
assembled under more affecting circumstances or pre-
sented a more peculiar appearance than that which met
in the Drury Church on 19th July, a miserably cold,
wet day, when the Rev. T. Norrie conducted Divine
service.
Having removed their families to Auckland, some of
the settlers agreed to return to Pukekohe. Sergt. Perry
with ten special constables was sent to command, and the
party, 29 in all, took possession of the church and began
to erect a stockade of logs and slabs surrounded by a ditch.
The work was completed on three sides only, with a screen
214 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
of boards on the fourth, when the splitting party were
fired on in the bush. The return fire was foohshly kept
up for over an hour, wasting precious ammunition and
leading a number of men to come from Martyn's Farm
only to find it was a false alarm and to vow never to
return. The position was felt to be quite unsafe and
Messrs Roose and Comrie were sent to Auckland to ask for
more men and ammunition. Before they returned, on
Monday, 14th September, the Natives set fire to Mr.
Comrie's house within half a mile of the church hoping
to draw the men out of the stockade. The ruse was not
successful and shortly after 9 o'clock they attacked the
church. Had the iMaoris charged when they fired the
first volley no white man would have been left to tell the
tale, as most were outside and unarmed. A hot fire was
kept up by the Natives from the cover of the bush about
40 yards distant, and about 11 o'clock it was thought
they were about to charge, as they came very near and
made the place ring with their savage yells. Their leader
advanced into the open and called out in good English,
" Come out, you cowards, and be men I do not stop behind
the logs." He was brought down, and a display of fixed
bayonets had some efi"ect in inducing them to retreat back
to cover. About noon the firing slackened and it was seen
that the Maoris were cooking their dinners. It was then
found there were only ten rounds of ammunition left per
man, and water was scarce. No wonder that the spirit ot
the defenders sank low.
Meantime the two deputies were returning from
Auckland. Mr. Comrie was detained at Drury to guide
an oflQcer, and Mr. Roose came on alone. Finding the
attack going on he turned and rode rapidly to Springfield
for assistance. About 12.80 the men in the church were
PEACE RESTOEED. 215
delighted to hear the sound of a bugle, and responded
with three ringing cheers. It proved to be a small detach-
ment from Springfield, who joined those inside to their
very great relief, it being now known that further help
would soon arrive. Both sides kept up a steady fire until
about 3 o'clock, when 200 or 300 men arrived from Drury,
and in less than half-an-hour the fight was practically
over. It was brought to an end by a gallant charge of the
relieving soldiers. The loss on the British side was three
killed and seven wounded. No one had been mjured inside
the stockade, though there were some very narrow escapes.
The Maoris left six dead behind them. These were buried
in the churchyard the following morning. Many years
after Rewi stated that their loss was 26 killed and 56
wounded, 25 of whom died of their wounds.
The war being over, the settlers returned to their
homes the following year, and in 1865 the stockade
was removed and the church repaired, the upper part
of the walls having been riddled with bullets. Some
signs of the fray may still be seen, one of the
most noticeable being a bullet hole in the porch. Several
of the defenders on that memorable day now sleep
in the churchyard, not far from the Maoris' grave.
Looking around on the now thriving and peaceful home-
steads it is hard to realise that such deeds were done and
hardships undergone by the early settlers.
"War, he sung, is toil and trouble ;
Honour but an empty bubble ;
Never ending, still beginning.
Fighting still, and still destroying,
If all the world be worth the winning.
Think, O think it worth the enjoying."
216 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The Rev. T. Norrie of Papakura writes : —
" The officer commanding, being applied to for an escort,
cautiously replied, ' I cannot send a large body with you, lest we
ourselves should be attacked, nor a small force, lest it should be cut
off.' Even riding with an escort was dangerous. The mounted
orderlies, armed with revolvers, used to ride between Drury and
Queen's Redoubt at such a pace through the dense forest, up hill
and down dale, that Bishop Selwyn and myself often risked an attack
from the Maoris rather than run the danger of ourselves breaking
our own necks. The Rev. Mr. Ashwell used to put on his bands
and call them his escort ; but the murder of the Rev. Mr. Volkner, at
Opotiki, with all its harrowing details, showed that even clergymen
were not safe in those troublous times. . . . Sometimes we had
a guard in the house, and sometimes I was supplied with a rifle to
fire off in the way of warning, if we should be attacked."
Dr. Elmslie got a war medal for being under fire
with the troops in the field towards the end of the sixties.
War then swept over the West Coast from New Plymouth
to Wanganui, and many of the people were drafted
for the battlefield. Through a dispute between the
Clerk of Works and the contractor the Presbyterian
Church at Wanganui was burnt down, and though
services were held in the Oddfellows' Hall, the meet-
ings were poorly attended. Under the circumstances
Mr. Elmslie thought he might do more good by
going and preaching to the volunteers and armed con-
stabulary in the field. The sanction of Colonel Whitmore
having been obtained, he started in 1868 for the nearest seat
of war, i.e., Goodall's redoubt, with a private escort of five
or six person, s among whom were Rev. Mr. West then an
elder of Wanganui, and Mr. D. Bell, uncle of Mrs. Tread-
well of Lyttelton. As the path led through the bush and
an attack by the Maoris was feared, this escort carried
carbines. When they arrived at their place of destination
they found that just opposite the redoubt erected by the
DR. ELMSLIE'S WAR MEDAL. 217
British the Natives had thrown up an earth work, and were
sending shots across now and again. Mr. Elmslie never
supposed for a moment that he should be permitted to
preach, but when he came on the scene he saw the soldiers
all drawn up in a square waiting. He at once made up
his mind that if they were prepared to hear he was
prepared to preach. So going to the place assigned
him he stood to his guns all through the service amid
frequent shots from the enemy, fearlessly waging a goodly
warfare in the church militant. It was like preaching on
the brink of eternity. He knew not when a ball might lay
him or one of his auditors low. As a matter of fact one
man was knocked over but not seriously injured, while
he was delivering his message of peaee. Years rolled by
and his services on the occasion went unrequited but
about ten years ago through the voluntary intervention of
Colonel Newall the war medal he now possesses was
awarded him.
Divisions in the Presbyterian Camp itself had aspects
more appalling than war without. ' ' United we stand,
divided we fall," is a well-known and true proverb. Yet
most of our congregations have at one time or other
aflorded evidence of cleavage on account of differences of
nationality and ecclesiastical training on the part of their
members. Many of our ministers have had to complain
of this. It meets us in this Colony again and again.
In view of the jealousies and heart-burnings which
have been generated at Home by the many divisions
into which Scotch Presbyterianism has been split up,
it is not a cause of wonder that when the fragments
find themselves side by side in the same Colonial con-
gregation a little friction should result. The fact is
greatly to be deplored. Time, however, is on the
218 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
side of fusion, and it is to be hoped that through a
continuance of brotherly love these Old Country land-
marks will entirely disappear. Nobody will ever be cursed
for removing them. The battle of Culloden was lost and
the hope of the House of Stuart extinguished through the
childish jealousies and contentions that pervaded the High-
land army.
Two other sources of difficulty met with by pioneering
ministers may also find a place here : Some Colonists when
starting for New Zealand were led to believe they should
find here grapes hanging by the wayside waiting to be
plucked. In this expectation they were disappointed,
but they found in abundance everywhere the wild
grapes referred to by Isaiah, i.e., love of wealth and
love of wine (Is. v., 8-24). These ever grow side by
side. In all ages the two main passions of the human
heart seem to have been love of money and love of
pleasure, a craving to gather and a craving to squander.
Greed and prodigality are not mutually exclusive. They
go hand in hand. A miner may give liberally for the
support of the Gospel and yet possess a heart oaten out
with a love of gold. No one will deny that they are
great hindrances to the spread of the gospel. The
ministers who preceded us found them in an aggravated
manner blocking the path to spiritual reform.
The fulminations of messengers of God like Isaiah
and the organisations formed by a roused people have done
much to lessen the evil of intemperance in modern times.
Lord Salisbury said with truth the other day : —
" I am satisfied that unless Temperance Associations existed
we should be immersed in such an ocean of intoxication, violence,
and sin, as would make this country uninhabitable."
GOLD AND INTEMPERANCE. 219
In the matter of intemperance things are not so bad
now as they were in 1874 when a committee of the
General Assembly of this Church reported that in some
districts there was one public-house to every sixty inhabi-
tants, and that the average was one to 260. Fancy a
minister struggling to induce men to "walk soberly,
righteously, and godly in a small place like Hokitika with
its 200, or like Greymouth with its 100 public shanties, in
days when temperance sentiment had not been formed,
or temperance associations organised.
If report be true facihties for getting strong drink on
the West Coast were not confined to the licensed houses.
It is said, for example, that before Kumara came into
notice a company of gold diggers had made an excavation
underneath their hut for the manufacture of poteen, and
caused the smoke from both apartments to escape by one
flue. They had also it was rumoured, arranged with
Sandy Stewart, the keeper of the accommodation house
on the main road above, that he was to strike up a
well-known tune outside his door on the bagpipes, when
Charlie Brown the detective came along. The conse-
quence was that when the officer of the law appeared on
the scene all were quietly working away at their gold claim.
Some of the Staflbrd folk could not resist the temptation
of going down to share in the good things. They pegged
out, however, claims rather near for the comfort of the
Houlahans. The latter, who would have preferred to have
been left like pelicans in the wilderness, objected and
brought the dispute into the Warden's Court in the
Waimea. There one of the party stated on oath that
each of them was worth about £5 per week. Immediately
there was a rush for the Teremakau, and the Presbyterian
minister at Staflbrd was left " a voice crying in the
wilderness." This was the origin of Kumara.
220 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The gold fever, the yoke-fellow of intemperance, like-
wise wrought more havoc in caily days than now. The
population had not settled down to the ordinary lawful
and legitimate trades. If the rumour got abroad that
gold in large quantities was being found at the Thames,
or in Otago or the West Coast, or Australia or even
California, a rush immediately set in for that El Dorado.
Men sold out immoveable property for what it would
bring, bundled up and hastened off in a wild state of
excitement to the gold diggings, often leaving churches
and ministers high and dry. Many a district has been
thrown into the ferment which Mr. W. H. Cutten, the
Commissioner of Lands, represented as happening to
Dunedin and neighbourhood in July 1861.
" Gold, gold, gold, is the universal subject of conversation. . . .
The fever is running at such a height that if it continue there will
scarcely be a man left in town. An anecdote is told of Geelong, that
upon the breaking out of the Australian diggings there was but one
man left, and he had a wooden leg, which the ladies threatened to
saw oft if he attempted to get away, as they were determined not to
be completely deserted. As things go there appears every probability
of the Dunedin ladies coming to the same pass. The Tokomairiro
Plain is positively deserted. Master and man have gone together.
... On last Sunday the congregation at church consisted of the
minister and precentor."
New congregations, of course, sprang up in the gold-
fields as suddenly as Jonah's gourd, but they were
likewise subject to great fluctuations. In Church-life as
elsewhere money brings with it an evil as well as a
blessing. Men speak with rapture of " the golden age."
They tell us with pride of the time when on the gold-fields
half-a-crown was offered for a penny in vain, when
nothing of less value than sixpence was given or received
in exchange, when a sum of £10 was cheerfully gifted for
the celebration of a marriage, and when, if a subscription
A MIXED MEMBEKSHIP. 221
list to raise money for some church or charitable object was
presented by you to anyone, he would say, " Here's a
pound. I don't want to see it," and rush on. They forget
the avarice and selfishness and pride and love of accumu-
lating and squandering that lay behind all this liberality.
" Yet gold all is not that doth golden seem."
There were good men, plenty of them, who pegged out
their claims and washed out their gold, but in too many
instances it is to be feared these generous givings which
the world applauds so much were sops to Cerberus,
palliatives for an uneasy conscience, and may be classed
with what Ruskin in his "Lamp of Truth" calls plaster
work, " surface deceits." It has been well said, "crimes
sometimes shock us too much ; vices almost always too
little." We may well commiserate the men who preached
the gospel in those early days and looked for fruit meet for
the Master's use. If an angel from heaven had come down
and proclaimed the truth, what influence could it have had
with men, who on the goldfields or elsewhere, braved
dangers to make a fortune somewhere, anyhow, and go
hence ; who worshipped "the golden calf ; " and whose con-
tinual cry was,
" Gold ! gold ! gold ! gold !
Bright and yellow, hard and cold."
222 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
CHAPTER XIV.
NEW DEPARTURES.
1. The First Meeting of the General Assembly. 2. A Minimum
Stipend and an Aged and Infirm Ministers Fund. 3. The
Legislative Recognition of the Presbyterian Church of New
Zealand. 4. An Examination Board for Theological Students
and their Course of Study. 5. The Principle of the Barrier Act
to be Adopted in Important Cases. 6. Marriage with a Deceased
Wife's Sister. 7. An Authorised Hymnal. 8. The General
Assembly and Ministers of Other Churches Applying for
Admission. 9. A Book of Order. 10. Tenure of Ministerial
Office. 11. A Marked Temperance Deliverance. 12. A New
Departure in the Foreign Mission Field. 13. Increase of the
Scholarship Endowment Scheme. 14. Adoption of the Declara-
tory Act.
We have not in these lands to chronicle the strik-
ing ecclesiastical events in which the Home Churches
have moved and had their being. We have not lived
long enough nor done enough evil to have a Re-
formation like that of the 16th Century, and to quarrel
over the lines on which it should proceed. We have not
been exposed to dire persecution at the hands of prelatic
Churches, Romish or Protestant. Neither royal absolutism
on the one hand nor State interference on the other has
encroached upon our spiritual rights. Ages of moderatism
and of evangelical revival wo are scarcely old enough to
know in their intensity. The sorrow of large secessions
and the joy of great reunions have been alike denied us.
None of us have been obliged for conscience sake to
surrender our manses, glebes, and livings, or to seal our
FIRST MEETING OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 223
testimony with our blood. Many of the battles for truth
and for civil and religious liberty have been fought and
won for us. It may be that at some future time some of
them shall have to be fought over again. At present we
are merely reaping the spoils. In New Zealand, therefore,
we are chiefly concerned with the events incidental to the
establishment of an old Church in a new land.
(1) The Fikst Meeting of the General Assembly. —
This memorable Assembly was held at Auckland in
November 1862. It is important as marking the gather-
ing together of the Church's spiritual forces. Previously
the Church existed in detached fragments, and had no
unity, and little power for good either in the State or
amongst its own people. It has an interest apart from
this. No subsequent Assembly of a like kind has ever
been held. It was the meeting of a united Church.
Otago for the first and last time had representatives in it
as members. All those who took part in its proceedings
seem to have been impressed with the magnitude of the
occasion. For some time a correspondence had been
going on among the leaders in both Islands. As a result,
a conference of ministers and elders was held in Dunediu
in November 1861, "to ascertain the practicability of
effecting a union of the different branches of the Presby-
terian Church in New Zealand," and " to adopt a basis
on which such a union might be consummated." Dr.
Burns was in the chair, and the Rev. D. M. Stuart and
other ministers of Otago took a leading part. Of the 28
members that comprised the conference 19 belonged to
the Southern Church, and eight to the Northern. That con-
ference, after adopting a basis of union, recommended the
holding of a convocation in Auckland in November 1862.
This convocation met at the time and place appointed, and
224 HISTORY OF N.Z. PEESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
resolved itself into the First General Assembly of the
Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. The comprehensive
title assumed was at the time perfectly justified. Reports
were received from the Presbyteries of Otago, Wellington,
and Auckland, approving the basis of union, and of 18
ministers and elders present two at least, viz.. Rev. A.
B. Todd, clerk, and W. Will, belonged to Otago.
Distance and lack of travelling facilities accounted for the
absence of the others. Mr. Will, as a representative from
Otago, seconded the resolution proposed by Mr. Bruce,
by which they constituted themselves a united Church.
Rev. John Macky, the wise and much-respected minister
of Otahuhu, was selected to preside over this historic
Assembly. He preached and gave an address full of
wisdom and power, in which, of course, many references
were made to the question of union. " We cannot but feel,"
he says, " that this is a day, the record of whose pro-
ceedings as transacted by us will be handed down in the
history of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand to the
latest period of its existence." Simple minded man, he did
not see far. The record of the time has come down, but it
is one of unworthy suspicions, petty misunderstandings, and
broken engagements. At the Assembly the Lord's Supper
was dispensed, committees set up, a loyal address to Her
Majesty the Queen prepared, and everything done to
preserve the best traditions of the Presbyterian Church.
This Church has never been wanting in loyalty to the
throne. It is the friend of law and order. It harbours
no anarchists and no revolutionists in its ranks. In
1863 it despatched an address to Her Majesty on the
occasion of the marriage of H.R.H. the Prince of
Wales. In 1867 it instructed a Committee to pre-
sent one to H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh when
LOYALTY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 225
visiting this Colony. Congratulations were ofifered
the Queen on the occasion of tlie 50th anniversary
of her accession to the throne. The addresses sent to
Governors have been as numerous as the occupants of
that office. On this occasion the Church was doubly
loyal. It presented an address both to Her Majesty and
to Sir George Grey. An Assembly looked upon as historic
must begin well.
The place of future meeting presented a difficulty, as
it always has done when the Union question cropped up.
It was settled by a compromise, the way in which the
whole matter must be finally disposed of. The annual
meetings were to be held successively in Wellington,
Ofeago, Christchurch, and Auckland.
The instrumental music question also bristled with
thorns. It, too, was the subject of a compromise. It was
" left to the judgment of each congregation," but the
Assembly stipulated that a " very large amount of
unanimity should exist " before instrumental music was
introduced. The Southern brethren could take no offence
at this. Napier was the first congregation dealt with under
this rule. This subject, which in the Home Churches has
been prolific of many heart-burnings, being thus dealt with
at the beginning, has never given any trouble in the New
Zealand Presbyterian Church.
The Church's Foreign Mission was then inaugurated.
From the New Hebrides, even in those days, was heard
the cry, " Come over and help us." The Committee on
Foreign and Maori Missions recommended that the New
Hebrides be selected as the Church's Foreign Mission field,
and thought there was enough enthusiasm in the United
Church to employ there one missionary. How the mis-
sionary spirit has grown since those days ! Each of the
226 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Churches, at present standing obstinately apart, has three
regular missionaries in this field, and maintains trained
Native teachers in vast numbers. The Northern Church
has also tried successfully the experiment of lay mis-
sionaries.
As we might expect from a young Church in a grow-
ing Colony, Church Extension received a large share of
attention. The Assembly was so deeply impressed with
the importance of this subject that it unanimously adopted
the report of the Home Mission Committee, and recom-
mended the Presbytery of Auckland to release Rev. D.
Bruce for a time from his charge, with a view to his visiting
the neglected districts specified, and placed Rev. John
Thom at the disposal of the Northern Presbytery. It is
sad to think that some of the districts then reported as
lacking ordinances have not yet been adequately supplied
for the want of men and means. Advantage was also
taken of Mr. Will's paying a visit to Europe to commission
him to represent the General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church of New Zealand, and to plead its claims upon the
sympathy of the Home Churches. With Mr. Will came
out afterwards a number of ministers for Otago.
On the subject of Temperance, many a strong resolu-
tion has been passed in the supreme court of this Church.
Few equal in stringency the following then agreed to : —
"That inasmuch as intemperance is a widespread evil in this
land, and a great hindrance to the advancement of vital religion, the
Assembly instructs all the ministers of the Church to direct the
attention of their congregations to this important subject at their
earliest convenience, and to use all available vieans in their power for
the suppression of this evil."
You cannot suppress intemperance without suppress-
ing the drink traffic. Considering the subsequent growth
of Temperance sentiment we must admit that it was a
THE MINIMUM STIPEND. 227
vigorous resolution. The havoc wrought by strong drink
in both lay and clerical ranks called loudly even then for
redress.
Thus ended after six Sessions and three days'
deliberations the most remarkable Assembly the New
Zealand Presbyterian Church has ever seen. In the
matter of Union we seem to be a long way yet from
realising the ideal which it placed before it.
" Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide,
In the strife of truth with falsehood, for the good or evil side."
Perhaps the right decision will come some day.
Meantime, let not the grass grow on the path of friend-
ship.
(2) A Minimum Stipend and an Aged and Infirm
Ministers Fund. — At Auckland in November 1866, the
following recommendations of the WeUington and Auck-
land Presbyteries were passed into a standing law of the
Church ; —
(a) " No minister ought to be settled in any district without an
income being provided of at least £200 per annum, with a house or
equivalent, of the suitableness of which the Presbytery of the bounds
shall judge.
(h) That efforts should be made to raise the minimum stipend
throughout the Church to £300 per annum.
In exceptional cases Presbyteries have broken through
this enactment, but always with the understanding that
when circumstances permit the stipend shall be raised to
the required amount. In a country where the common
workman receives six shillings per day, few will consider
the minimum fixed by the Church as too high. " The
labourer," says Christ, " is worthy of his hire," and the
labourer well and regularly paid his hire and freed from
all pecuniary care will in spiritual things far more than
228 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTEBIAN CHURCH.
compensate his people for their carnal things. Here the
Solomonic proverb holds good,
"There is that scattereth and yet increaseth,
And there is that witholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to
poverty."
An Aged and Infirm Ministers Fund seemed also
necessary to place ministers on a proper footing. If
sickness or old age overtook them, what had they to fall
back upon ? It was urged in favour of it by a committee
appointed to consider the matter that five per cent, of the
ministers in the Home Churches are more or less disabled
for active duty, and that, owing to " the more exhausting
climatic influences and clerical labours which ministers in
this Colony have to undergo," six per cent, at least in
New Zealand would have to be assisted in this way.
Such a Fund, therefore, was got under weigh,
and as a tiny barque started on its long and precarious
voyage. It has turned out that about six per cent, have
to be assisted by this scheme. The Convener in 1898
reported that the capital was £4200, the income £408,
and the expenditure £300, paid to six beneficiaries out of
a ministry of about 100. One of the regulations requires
that until tlie capital reaches £6000, only two-thirds of
the income may be paid out in annuities. Owing to the
increased number of beneficiaries the Assembly adopted
last year the recommendation of the Committee, " that £1
shall be given instead of £2 for term of service, and
that the maximum shall be £80 instead of £120."
Out of this Fund the aged and infirm minister can
draw the allowance he bargained for without losing any of
that self-respect which Sir John Herschel calls " the
corner-stone of all virtue."
LEGISLATIVE RECOGNITION. 229
(3) Legislative Eecognition OF THE Presbyterian Church
OF New Zealand.— After much agitation on the part of
the Church and many delays, there was passed by the
Legislature on 21st September 1878, an Act whose
preamble runs : —
" And whereas, in many cases, real and personal property for
purposes connected with the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand,
is held in tiust under titles indicating a connection with Churches in
Scotland, and which connection has no existence ; and whereas it
is expedient that the legal position of the said Presbyterian Church
in New Zealand should be defined by law, and that provision should
be made enabling persons in whom Church properties are vested to
deal therewith, as hereinafter provided."
The second clause reads : —
2. The Presbyterian Church now existing within the provinces
aforesaid shall henceforth be known as " The Presbyterian Church of
Ntw Zealand."
(4) An Examination Board for Theological Students.
— Originally the oversight of these students was left
to individual Presbyteries. In 1880, in order to secure
uniformity and make the best provision in her power for
testing the literary acquirements of her students before
entering on their theological course, and their subsequent
training and culture before joining the ministry, the
Church initiated the practice since continued of yearly
appointing an Examination Board composed of representa-
tives of various Presbyteries. This Board, which prescribes
courses of study and holds annual examinations, must
certify as to the fitness of a candidate prior to his receiving
license to preach the Gospel. It is one of the most
important pieces of machinery in connection with the
Church. Under the able presidency of Dr. Sidey, the
Clerk of Assembly, it has been maintaining a high standard
230 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
of education for the ministry. In this effort the hands of
its members are upheld by the Church. The Book of
Order enacted that :
" All students in the ministry of this Church are required to
take a University course in one of the Colleges of the Colony before
entering on their theological course of study ; the right of dispensing
with this in special cases is reserved for the Assembly itself."
In 1891 a Committee of Assembly appointed to con-
sider how the spiritual wants of outlying districts might
be supplied proposed to modify this wise provision. It
recommended for the consideration of Assembly three
schemes. No. 1, for student evangelists, was a remarkable
one. It not only proposed to dispense with University
training but with the study of Hebrew and the classical
languages. This it did in face of the fact that Hebrew is
the original language of the Old Testament, Greek of
the New, and that some of the most eminent authorities
have eulogised the study of Latin. We quote a few,
because on this subject there is much misapprehension
everywhere. The idea has become common that the time
spent in learning Latin inside or outside the Church is
simply wasted. Professor Laurie, in his lectures on the
the linguistic method, says : —
" We teach Latin because the study of Latin gives (to an
Englishman at least) more than any other language can do, a training
in words — the relative values and functions of words, and, conse-
quently, training in the thought-things which words denote. The
shades of meaning in vocables are brought into high relief. Latin is
to a very large extent (to the extent of two-thirds at least) our own
tongue. In studying Latin, therefore, we are studying our own
tongue in its sources, and getting all the discipline and nutrition of
mind which flows from the study of the origin and history of words.
Latin enables us to revivify our own tongue for ourselves. Nay, we
are studying our own language in much of its syntactical mould also,
as may be seen by reading our early prose writers, and even those of
the eighteenth century."
THEOLOGICAL STUDENTS' COURSE OF STUDY. 231
He quotes the opinion of Dr. W. T. Harris, Education
Commissioner for the United States, who says : —
" One may say that of 100 boys, 50 of whom had studied Latin
for a period of six months, while the other 50 had not studied Latin
at all, the 50 with a smattering of Latin would possess some slight
impulse towards analysing the legal and political view of human life,
and surpass the other 50 in this direction. Placed on a distant
frontier with the task of building a new civilisation, the 50 with a
smattering of Latin would furnish lawmakers and political rulers,
legislators, and builders of the State. In studying Latin we are
taking possession of the key of the Romance languages, shortening
the time needed for acquiring those by at least one half."
The American Committee of Ten advocated a few
years ago the teaching of it to every boy in the secondary
schools. Sir Joshua Fitch, until recently one of Her
Majesty's Chief Inspectors of Schools, in his " Lectures
on Teaching," says he would have Latin taught in the
primary schools as well, to show its bearings on the
structure of English words.
Professor Jowett, of Balliol College, Oxford, is no
mean authority. Many on this committee, who did not
wish to lower the standard of ministerial education, had
the idea that the dropping out of classics could be com-
pensated for by requiring an increased knowledge of
English. Professor Jowett was not of that opinion. He
asserts that for a student to be able to convert a piece of
Latin into English is a higher accomplishment of the mind
than the simple writing of the best piece of English.
As for Greek and Hebrew, some acquaintance with
them is necessary to enable ministers to have an intelli-
gent grasp of the Bible. Robertson of Brighton it is well
known owed the strength and beauty of his style to a
knowledge of the former language. Many owe to it more
than they can compute.
232 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
We are not surprised, therefore, to find that on this
occasion No. 1 scheme was rejected, and that No. 2,
called " The full subject scheme," which included Latin,
Greek, and Hebrew, but dispensed with a University
training, and placed students under the supervision of
Presbyteries, received much attention, but little favour.
After one of the keenest debates ever seen in the Assembly
it was sent back to the Committee for reconsideration.
Another Committee, after consulting the Presbyteries,
reported in 1892 : —
" That to adopt Scheme II., opening the door to the ministry
without any University or Hall course, would tend to lower the
standard of education, and would not be in the interests of the
Church. They therefore submit that the Regulations remain sub-
stantially as they are at present."
This recommendation, based upon the collective wisdom
of the Church, was wisely adopted by the General Assembly.
The ministry was thus saved from a real danger that
threatened it at the hands of its own friends. It has been
often noiiced that ministers without culture soon lose their
hold on even the poor and unlettered of their congregations.
Most wise men will say, " Let necessitous stations be supplied
by lay agents, or whatever help may be available, but keep
the ministry in a high state of efficiency." This the
general needs of Christ's Church require. For this the
Presbyterian communion has always been distinguished.
Nothhig equally with it will attract students of ability,
and keeping the ofiice-bearers abreast of the age, secure that
the Presbyterian Church shall be the Church of the future,
in the day when every man shall realise,
" Were I so tall to reach the Pole,
Or grasp the ocean with my span,
I must be measur'd by my soul;
The mind's the standard of the man."
PEINCIPLE OF THE BAERIER ACT. 233
5. The Pkinciple of the Barrier Act to be Adopted
IN Important Cases. — A majority of the Presbyteries had
approved of an overture to the effect : —
" That before any General Assembly of the Church shall pass
any Acts which are to be binding rules and constitutions to the
Church, the same Acts be remitted to the consideration of the
several Presbyteries of this Church, and their opinions and consent
be reported by their Commissioners to the next General Assembly
following, who may then pass the same into Acts, if the more
general opinion of the Church thus had agree thereto."
In 1882, a motion that the Assembly adopt the
Barrier Act as thus set forth was rejected, and the follow-
ing amendment carried : —
" That the Assembly do not adopt the Barrier Act, the Assembly
in the meantime acting in all important cases on the general principle
of the Act."
Another attempt in 1885 was made by the Hawke's
Bay Presbytery to have the Barrier Act adopted in its
entirety, but it also failed. Those who opposed seemed to
think that under its hard and fast provisions not only
might valuable time be unnecessarily wasted in many
cases, but that a majority of Presbyteries, though repre-
senting a minority of ministers and elders, might com-
pletely block a desirable reform. As it is, the General
Assembly decides what change is to be viewed as altering
or modifying the constitution of the Church, and is
therefore to be sent down to Presbyteries and Sessions,
and reserves to itself a free hand in subsequently dealing
with it. This is the spirit of paragraph 249 inserted in
the Book of Order in 1887 :—
" Every proposal by overture or otherwise, involving an innova-
tion on the constitution of the Church, in matters of doctrine,
discipline, government, or worship, must be sent down by the
Assembly to all the Presbyteries and Sessions for their consideration
and report thereon before it can be passed into a standing law."
234 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
6. Marruge with a Deceased Wife's Sister.— What
a bone of contention this subject has formed in the Home-
land ! What thunderbolts have been forged out of the
Westminster Confession of Faith, which declares such
marriages to be " incestuous " ! What arguments for and
against have been based upon Leviticus xviii., 18, or
drawn from social expediency. Ever since Lord Lynd-
hurst's Act of 1835 declared all future marriages of the
kind to be ipso facto null and void, an agitation increasing
in strength year by year, and whose object is to repeal that
portion of the statute law of England, has existed. The
agitators could point to the fact that almost every State in
Europe and in the British Colonial possessions had
abrogated all prohibitory laws on this subject. They
could call to their aid the inconvenience and inconsistency
drawn attention to by the late Lord Cairns : —
"If a man being domiciled in a colony in which it is lawful to
marry his deceased wife's sister do marry her, his marriage will be good
all the world over ; whereas if a domiciled Englishman, merely resident
in such colony, do so marry, his marriage will be bad everywhere."
They have been able, too, to boast of the enthusiastic
support of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales and other
distinguished magnates. Notwithstanding they have not
yet succeeded in removing the feature objected to from the
British statute book. This has been chiefly owing to the
opposition of the Christian Churches.
In New Zealand the Presbyterian Church found itself
peculiarly situated. As the outcome of " progressive
legislation " in vogue, marriage with a deceased wife's
sister had been conceded by the Legislature. The ques-
tion arose, ought this Church to come into collision with
the law of the land, or place its impriwatur on the change
effected, or leave the whole matter an open question. It
adopted the latter course, and peace has been the result.
ADOPTION OF " CHURCH PRAISE." 235
In 1883 attention was called to the anomalies of the
case by an overture of the Timaru Presbytery, and relief
asked for those office-bearers who had signed the Confession
of Faith and had conscientious scruples in regard to the
strong position that document had taken up on the
question, and for those office-bearers and members who
bad entered into the prohibited relationship or contem-
plated doing so. By an overwhelming majority it decided
as follows : —
" That as the law of the land does not contravene ' anything
expressly laid down in Scripture,' and there is diversity of opinion . .
it shall be left to the individual conscience of ministers and members
to determine what course they shall pursue as to celebrating and
entering upon such marriages as they have to give account to God."
It was feared that this would be a bar to the Union
of the Northern and Southern Churches of New Zealand,
but a few years ago the Church of Otago and Southland
in a most conciliatory manner followed the example of its
Northern neighbour and passed a similar enactment.
(7) The Adoption of " Church Praise." — We cannot
afford to despise the influence for good that music
exercises in the services of the sanctuary. Though
harmony is technically the science of discord, yet as
Congreve says, "music has charms to soothe the savage
breast." Under its disciplinary inspiration many an army
has moved forward to victory. If it be true that
ballad poetry has had more to do in forming the
characters of many nations in early days than those
who made their laws, what shall we say of the
direction and force which hymns have given to the
life of the Church. The hymns of the ancient Temple
became a model for the early Christian Church, and for
1400 years the Christian Church has been the patron of
the musical art. Owing to the Romish and Ritualistic
236 HISTOEY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
uses to which it had been turned, Presbyterians for a time
neglected its culture. The pendulum, however, has been
swinging back. They have come to realise that it has its
uses as well as abuses, and that though,
" Some to church repair,
Not for the doctrine, but the music there,"
still they may remain to hear and to pray. One reason
why the singing should receive special attention in the
Presbyterian Chuich is that it is almost the only part of
the worship in which its members can audibly take part.
" Church Praise " was adopted in 1884, the Assembly
enjoining,
" Congregations to be careful in introducing the book, so as to
ensure harmony and avoid pressing unduly on the circumstances of
individuals and congregations."
It was a great improvement on " Psalms and Hymns for
Divine Worship " previously in use among many congre-
gations of the Church. It was compiled by a committee
of the Presbyterian Church of England, which was
appointed by the Synod in April 1881. It rightly gives
to the Psalms a first place, contains 575 hymns carefully
selected with a view to the needs of the young as well as
the old and the requirements of different times and
seasons, and is supplied with music adapted to the
words under the supervision of a musical expert, Mr.
E. J. Hopkins, Mus. Doc. A more uniform and appro-
priate rendering of the service of praise has been the result.
How long " Church Praise " shall hold the fort will
depend on circumstances. Last year a committee was
appointed to report on the new Hymnary recently pub-
lished by the united committees of the Establishecl, Free,
and United Presbyterian Churches of Scotland and of the
Presbyterian Church of Ireland.
ADMISSION OF MINISTERS. 237
(8) The General Assembly reserves to itself the
right to admit unattached ministers, and ministers and
PROBATIONERS FROM ChURCHES NOT ALLIED WITH THE
Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. A rule to this
effect passed in 1882 and amended in 1886 reads :
" Any minister or probationer belonging to any other Church
(except those regularly accredited from Home, by commission from
the Colonial Committees of the Churches authorised to give such
commission, and those called from Churches from which ministers
may be called) who desires to be admitted as a minister or
probationer of this Church must apply, in the first instance, to the
Presbytery within whose bounds he has his residence ; the Presbytery
to report to the Assembly by whom alone admissions shall be made."
This was a wise enactment. Its evident design was
to maintain in efficiency the ministry of the Presbyterian
Church of New Zealand.
(9) A Book of Order. — Prior to 1887 the want of a
properly authenticated Manual of Church Procedure was
greatly felt. Diverse ways of transacting the business of
the Church existed, and complaints of irregularity were
frequent. To many congregations the Victorian Rules
and Forms of Procedure served as a temporary guide till
that book went out of print. The General Assembly then
appointed a Committee to deal with the matter. After
some delay the present Book of Order was adopted at
Wellington in February 1887. The greater part of the
book is a reprint of " The Book of Order of the Presby-
terian Church of England," the thanks of the Assembly
being given to the authorities of that Church for their
kind permission to make such copious use of it.
Considerable assistance was also received from the Rules
and Forms of Procedure of the United Presbyterian Church
of Scotland. After the Assembly had gone over the Book
of Order clause by clause and settled the form it was to take,
238 HISTOEY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
thanks were given to the Rev. W. Gilhes " for the great
diligence, learning, and tact " which he had brought to
bear on its preparation, and he was appointed Convener
of the Committee that was to see it through the press.
The Assembly having decided that ministers and elders
should sign the Confession of Faith, the text of the latter
document was bound up with it, and 2000 copies issued,
the cost being 2s 6d each. The proceeds after expenses
were paid were handed over to the Assembly Expense
Fund. Every office-bearer should provide himself with a
copy, which may now be had for one shilling.
There has been a good deal of discussion from time
to time over the interpretation of this Book of Order, and
some have expressed themselves freely as to its faults of
omission and commission. This of course was to be
expected. Those who have had the largest hand in
shaping it would be the first to admit that it was not
infallible. It has, however, conferred a great benefit on
the Church by furnishing a fair representation of the
common law of the Church, by bringing about uniformity
of procedure in the Church courts, and by securing that
" all things be done decently and in order."
10. Tenure of Ministerial Office. — Here we reach
a most pronounced feature of the Presbyterian Church of
New Zealand. Members of Churches in other lands will
consider the legislation advanced which entitles the
Presbytery to dissolve the pastoral tie between a minister
and his congregation simply on the grounds that the ends
of the ministry are not served. It will seem, perhaps, like
granting a divorce on account of incompatibility of tempera-
ment. The new departure came about in this way. Rev.
W. Gillies, of Timaiu, believing that the ministry existed
for the Church and not the Church for the ministry, and
TENURE OF MINISTERIAL OFFICE. 239
that congregations from time to time had suffered through
being saddled with ministers who, from one cause or
another, were not suited to the spheres of labour in which
they were placed, approached the Assembly by an overture
of his Presbytery. In it he suggested that the pastorate
be limited to seven years. He probably did not expect
this sweeping innovation to be adopted by a Presbyterian
Church, but with his usual astuteness he got an influential
Committee set up to deal with the question, and an
agitation set on foot which prepared the way for the
following rule of the Book of Order laid down in 1887 : —
" 216. When the Presbytery has reason to believe that in any
case the ends of a Gospel ministry are not being fulfilled, and that a
congregation is in consequence suffering, a Presbyterial visitation of
the congregation should be held to examine into the circumstances ;
and if it appears that from any inefficiency, remission of duty, or
unsuitableness to the sphere, the spiritual and general interests of
the congregation are being sacrificed, the Presbytery is entitled to
dissolve the pastoral tie, and declare the charge vacant, or may
report the case to the General Assembly for its decision there-
anent.
The Book of Order secures also that at all ordinations
and inductions the minister, among other things, shall be
asked : " Do you admit the right of the Presbytery to
dissolve the pastoral tie at any time, on being satisfied
that the ends of the ministry are not being served ?"
Procedure under this rule requires no libel or other pro-
tracted method of settling the difficulty. By a coup de
grace it effects the happy despatch. The washing of
dirty linen in public in connection with the matter is
prevented. Only one case has been directly dealt with
under this rule. Indirectly, however, it has had a
powerful moral effect in obviating the necessity for the
Presbytery in this way issuing the case.
240 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
(11) A Marked Temperance Deliverance. — Resolu-
tions of a more or less stringent nature had been previously
passed, but in 1889 the Church made a conspicuous
forward movement. Rev. J. K. Elliott of Wellington,
who had denounced what he designated " the do-nothing
policy " of the Committee on Intemperance, and
who had been appointed Convener of a new Committee,
formulated his first Temperance Report. That report
which was adopted by the Assembly of 1889 in its entirety,
recommended the formation of " a Ministers' Total Ab-
stinence Association," composed of pastors, licentiates,
and students. To this Society the majority of the
Church's ministers now belong. After pointing out that in
seven years only 25 public-houses out of 1500 had been
suppressed, the report went on to declare : —
" In favour of a direct veto at the ballot-box for suppression of
the liquor traffic, and also in favour of according the privilege of
voting to women."
This was a complete endorsement of the New Zealand
Prohibition movement. All that the strongest Prohibi-
tionist aims at is the suppression of the liquor traffic by
the direct vote of the people, male and female. A
democratic measure like this it well became a democratic
Church to take the lead in advocating. A liberal principle
of this kind is now embodied in the legislature of
this country, but as yet it has not realised expectations,
partly owing to a three-fifths majority being required to
suppress the traffic, and partly to the failure of Christian
men and women to rise to the necessities of the occasion.
The Church of Christ cannot be too intolerant of wrong
doing, and yet, all over the world, for one that is striking
at the root of evil, a dozen are probably hacking away at
the branches.
THE MEDICAL MISSION. 241
To make the Temperance work of the Church
more effective, the Assembly that year, at the suggestion
of the Committee on Intemperance, appointed a Temper-
ance agent in each Presbytery, whose duty was " To see
that the recommendations of the Assembly are carried out
in his Presbyterial district, and generally to co-operate
with the Committee."
(12) A New Departure in The Foreign Mission
Field.— Rev. Robert Lamb, A.M., M.B., CM., B.D.,
having offered himself for Foreign Mission work to this
Church, the Assembly ordained him in February 1892
during its sittings at Auckland. Much interest centred in
this appointment. Dr. Lamb was the first son of the Church
in New Zealand who entered this field, being a member of
St. Paul's, Christchurch. The medical mission itself, of
which he was the head, although as old as the time of
Christ, had not as yet by any Presbyterian Church been
established in the New Hebrides. There was another
novel feature in the movement. That year the Foreign
Mission Committee with the approval of the Assembly
appointed two lay missionaries to be associated with Dr.
Lamb as his assistants. This also was a new departure
in the New Hebrides Mission. Such agents had been
successfully employed by even conservative Churches, not
only in the Dark Continent of Africa and the degenerate
East, but also in China and India, where subtle philo-
sophies had grown up and become hoary with the age of
centuries, but prior to this period there were no lay
missionaries in the New Hebrides. This medical mission
established at Dip Point, Ambrym, has supplied a much
felt want in the islands, and is much appreciated by both
Natives and traders. The success that has attended it is
gratifying to the whole Church, and should stimulate its
sons and daughters to come to its help and meet its
growing necessities.
242 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
(18) Increase of Scholarship Endowment Scheme. —
The Scholarship Committee of 1895 reported that three
holders of the Sommerville Scholarship had complied with
the conditions, and had been paid their scholarships, but
that a number of apparently suitable men desirous of
studying for the ministry were prevented by want of
means, and that the question of remedying this was one
of the most vital that could engage the attention of the
Church. The Assembly thereupon called the attention of
Presbyteries, Sessions, and congregations to " the necessity
for a speedy and extensive increase of the Scholarship
Fund of the Church." A satisfactory response was made.
The following year the Committee reported a scholarship
of £25, from St. John's, Wellington ; one, " the Whyte
Scholarship " of £20 for three years, from Auckland; two
from the Christchurch Presbytery of £25 per year for
three years ; and intimated that more were forthcoming.
It is to be hoped that our rich congregations and wealthy
members will keep prominently before them a matter that
so closely concerns the best interests of the Church.
(14.) Adoption of the Declaratory Act. — This Act was
adopted by the Synod of Otago and Southland in 1895.
The General Assembly of this Church, meeting soon after,
thought if the Northern Church followed its example a
better basis should exist for further Union negotiations,
and that difficulties and scruples felt by not a few in
signing the Confession of Faith would be removed.
Accordingly it sent the Act down to Presbyteries and
Sessions for their consideration. As only one Session, out
of 23 Sessions and 6 Presbyteries which reported, raised
any objection, the Declaratory Act was adopted in
February 1897, " as exhibiting the sense in which the
office-bearers of this Church may interpret the Confession
THE DECLARATORY ACT. 243
of Faith." It emphasises " the love of God, Father, Son,
and Holy Ghost, to sinners of mankind," while holding
by " the Divine purpose of grace towards those that are
saved." It teaches that tlie natural man is " capable of
affections and actions which in themselves are virtuous
and praiseworthy," although believing in " the corruption
of man's whole nature." By it the Church disclaims
teaching " the fore-ordination of men to death irrespective
of their own sin," that " any who die in infancy are lost,"
" that God may not extend His mercy for Christ's sake,
and by His Holy Spirit, to those who are beyond the
reach " of the means of grace, or " any principles incon-
sistent with liberty of conscience and the right of private
judgment."
It winds up by saying : —
" That while diversity of opinion is recognised in this Church
on such points in the Confession of Faith as do not enter into the
substance of the Reformed faith therein set forth, the Church retains
full authority to determine, in any case that may arise, what points
fall within this description, and thus to guard against any abuse of
this liberty to the detriment of sound doctrine, or to the injury of
her unity and peace."
Thus the Church has gone on from year to year
perfecting her machinery and adapting herself to place
and time, while holding on by the inflexible principles of
truth and righteousness, and thus she shall continue to
live and move and have her being : —
" Lasting her lamp, and unconsumed her flame,
Her nature and her office still the same,
In deathless triumph shall for ever live,
And endless good diffuse and endless praise receive."
244 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
CHAPTER XV.
CHURCH EXTENSION.
The Duty of the Church— The Strong Helping the Weak— The
Danger of Looking Back — Legislation of the First General
Assembly — Rev. D. Bruce's Church Extension Tour — Rev. C.
Eraser's Work — Liberal Congregations — The Canterbury Church
Extension Association — Aims of the Church Extension Scheme
— A Sustentation Fund Tried — Work Done — Large Districts
Unsupplied with Ordinances— A Call to Arms.
In a young country like New Zealand, which is being
gradually occupied, it is highly desirable that the extension
of the Church with its ordinances and influences should
keep pace with the advance of settlement. It is incumbent
on the Church of Christ to follow with the Bread of Life those
enterprising settlers, who with their families are constantly
pushing their way into remoter districts. Often these
colonists make their way into the very midst of the dense
bush in order to occupy new territory and make for them-
selves new homes. Thither, even before the primeval forest
is turned into a I'ich pasture land, or the swamps are con-
verted into cultivated fields, it becomes a faithful Church
to send them the Gospel. It is able to secure that " the
wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them,
and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose." The
beginning of the life of a community is not unlike that of
an individual. Opportunities of moulding the character
once lost can never be recalled. If these energetic settlers
are not immediately followed up with the means of grace
they are apt to sink down into a state of worldliness, un-
godliness, and sin, from which it is difficult to move them.
THE DUTY OF THE CHUKCH. 245
The Bible becomes a neglected or forgotten book ; the
Sabbath is utilised like other days for secular work, or
turned into a day of mere pleasure seeking. As a
result a low tone of social and moral life exists in the
district. No one realises the depth of his spiritual
destitution. Not only does there grow up a feeling
of indifference to the Church and her ordinances, but
one even of hostility. When a minister is at length
sent to them, it is no uncommon thing to hear them say,
" We do not want him. We can get on well enough
without church or minister." Adequate ministerial
support, as a consequence, is not forthcoming. All this
but proves the truth of the words of Lewis Morris : —
" For knowleitge is a barren tree and bare
Bereft of God, and duty but a word,
And strength but tyranny, and love desire,
And purity is folly."
Such a state of matters should not be allowed to exist in
a Christian country. It will not, if the Church realises
her duties, and is true to her mission. Those who
luxuriate in the enjoyment of Gospel ordinances have
great responsibilities.
Ruskin says : —
" The strength and power of a country depends absolutely on
the quantity of good men and women in it."
If they are few and disunited in a community, then
woe betide that land. If they are many and united, they
will be a great power for beneficence, truth, and righteous-
ness. Ben Jonson designates good men " the planets of
the ages." Their work is to shine upon, and dispel, the
darkness of their times. Multitudes profess to belong to
this class, but professions count for nothing till they are
246 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
translated into living, self-sacrificing deeds. The more
doing the more life. Action is a characteristic of life. If
our actions cost us something, then they have in them all
the more evidence of vital godliness. Almost anyone will
do a kind office if it comes in his way. It is the going
out of one's way to do it that makes the deed meritorious.
Even Reiian holds : —
" So soon as sacrifice becomes a duty and a necessity to man
I see no limit to the horizon which opens out before him."
He will certainly not lack a boundless mission field
within the borders of the Presbyterian Church of New
Zealand. Underlying the whole Church extension scheme
of this communion is the principle, that those who have
the means of grace established in their midst should send
to those who have not, or as Paul put it for the Romans,
" We that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the
weak and not to please ourselves." What a hopeful pro-
spect there would be for Church extension if all our
congregations that are organised into self-sustaining
charges acted on this principle, and realised : —
" The strong must build stout cabins for the weak,
Must plan and stint ; must sow and reap and store ;
For grain takes root, though all seems bare and bleak."
The Presbyterian Church of New Zealand has been
moving along these lines from the very beginning, and
must continue to do so to the end. We cannot with safety
do otherwise. It has often been remarked that the Empire
which ceases to defend and maintain her outposts, nay,
which no longer makes new conquests, rapidly loses her
prestige and influence. Other nations threateningly sur-
round her, like vultures spying out a wounded animal and
darkening the air with ominous flapping of wings. For
the Church, as for the nation, that puts its hand to the
LEGISLATION OF FIEST GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 247
plough there must be no looking back. Her motto must
be, " On to the bounds of the waste, on to the city of
God."
Church extension as we have been trying to picture
it had its origin as a scheme with the birth of an organised
Church. At the first meeting of the General Assembly,
held in Auckland in 1862, and representative of the whole
of New Zealand, it was resolved : —
" That a General Church Extension Fund be established for
the purpose of promoting the interests of the Church throughout
New Zealand, and temporarily aiding weak congregations, and that
for this end an annual collection be appointed to be made in all
congregations and at all stations."
Regulations for the administration of the Fund were
framed. Amongst others it was enacted : —
" That as a general rule no minister should be settled in any
charge which does not raise at least £100 per annum towards
stipend."
" That though the amount of supplement cannot be absolutely
fixed, the minimum stipend should be regarded as £200 per annum."
" That as a general rule no more than £100 be granted in aid
to one congregation, and that the grant be diminished £10 at least
every year after the first till the charge becomes self-sustaining."
Districts where resident clergymen were urgently
required were indicated, and application was to be made
to the Home Churches for assistance in men and means to
enable the Church to meet those requirements. The
better to initiate the working of this Mission the Assembly
agreed to a recommendation that one of the ministers of
the Church should be released for a time from his charge,
in order that he might visit the districts more urgently
requiring attention, and prepare the way for the settle-
ment of resident pastors. The Rev. David Bruce, of St.
248 HISTOEY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Andrew's, Auckland, now the Rev. Dr. Bruce, of Sydney,
was accordingly released. In every way Mr. Bruce was
admirably qualified for this work. Possessing great
ability, sound judgment, fine tact, gentlemanly bearing,
thorougli loyalty to the Church, and enthusiasm for Church
Extension, he rendered services in this department which
were invaluable.
Starting on the tour arranged for him by the Assembly,
at the end of January, 1863, he found numbers of
Presbyterians, averaging from 150 to 250, and forming in
the aggregate about 1500 souls, who were receiving no
spiritual instruction from the Church to which they
belonged, and, in some instances, scarcely any religious
visitation or superintendence worthy of the name from
other denominations.
By expounding the Assembly's Church Extension
Scheme, and by carrying round blank calls ready for
signature, with a view to their being sent to some of the
Home Churches, he did good service. Many a similar
tour in the interests of Church Extension was made by him,
especially after he was appointed General Church Agent,
by the Assembly in December, 1875, the Established, Free,
and United Presbyterian Churches of Scotland having
joined with the Presbyterian Church of Ireland in offering
each a £150 for one year for this purpose. A book on his
travelling experiences in those days, written by him, would
be exceedingly interesting, and make us all more thank-
ful for our roads and bridges, our churches and manses,
and our enlightened and peaceful times.
Rev. C. Fraser of Christchurch also rendered yeo-
man service in the cause of Church Extension. Being
a martyr to sea sickness he made as few journeys
CHURCH EXTENSION WORK. 249
as possible to the North Island; but mountains, rivers,
or other land difficulties did not prevent him going
into the remotest corners of Canterbury, North and
South, and Westland, preaching the Gospel, organising
charges, and settling ministers. The good Church Exten-
sion work that he has done remains to this day.
For a time Church Extension was carried on by indi-
vidual ministers, individual congregations, and individual
Presbyteries. We have mentioned some of the ministers who
led the van in these labours in order to extend the Presby-
terian Church of New Zealand. Among the congregations
in early days were those of Auckland, Napier, Wanganui,
Wellington, Nelson, and Christchurch. Of £100 raised
for the fund in 1863. Auckland contributed £23, Napier
and Nelson £21 each, Welhngton £7, and Wanganui £6.
St. Andrew's, Christchurch, which did nobly, used its
energies to supply local and district needs. St. Andrew's
in Auckland City, of which Rev. Mr. Bruce was minister,
was at that time by far the largest and most influential
congregation in the Church. Connected with it were a
number of wealthy, hberal, and leal-hearted men, who
loved the Presbyterian Church, valued her services, and
were proud of her history. They were zealous, and
generous in helping to extend her ordinances to their
fellow colonists. Population was then extending into
the remoter districts north and south of Auckland,
and in those places as they became settled, churches
were planted by them.
In earlier years, before the Church Extension Scheme
was inaugurated or had got well on its feet, Presbyteries
Hke Auckland and Christchurch put forth most laudable
efforts to supply the spiritual wants of their respective
districts. Unfortunately, however, the need was greater in
250 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
those regions where no strong Presbytery existed to cope
with them. There were other associations at Auckland
and Christchurch which also gave a helping hand.
The Canterbury Presbyterian Church Extension
Association was one of the most important of these. It
was inaugurated in 1871, and for its organisation owed
much to Rev. A. F. Douglas, of St. Paul's, Christchurch,
whose zeal and energy in the matter was very conspicuous.
The lay element, however, was its backbone. To hard-
headed, practical, business men, who managed it wisely and
who themselves gave liberally, it owed much of its success.
Men like Messrs. J. Anderson, R. S. Higgins, W. Gavin,
D. Craig, W. Dymock, R. Sutherland, and others were in
it a power for good. Mr Andrew Duncan, as Secretary,
rendered good service, until in August 1873 he departed
for Europe as Provincial Immigration Agent. We cannot
say that his mission to the Old Country benefited much
this scheme, or the country generally. The lack of
intelligence and enterprise and want of moral stamina
displayed by many of those brought out with the money of
the Colony at that time are in evidence at this moment in
many districts. This Church Extension Association held
monthly meetings, sent deputations to other districts on
special occasions, formed in many places branch commit-
tees, supplied vacant congregations, and brought ministers
from Home. It had an arrangement with the Free
Church Colonial Committee to act for it in choosing and
sending out men, to whom it guaranteed £200 per year.
The agents whom it sent into neglected districts of the
South Island, as a rule, speedily got calls and settled down
to do efficient work. Some of the ministers are now faithfully
serving the Church who were brought to New Zealand by it
between 1871 and 1876, and with one or two exceptions
AIMS OF CHUECH EXTENSION SCHEME. 251
all the moneys expended in this way were recouped by the
congregations benefited. It came to an end when Mr. A.
F. Douglas departed, and Presbyteries grew in strength
and perhaps in jealous watchfulness over their privileges,
and the Church to secure uniformity of practice required
the concentration of its energies on the work of a com-
mittee appointed by its authority and labouring under its
direct supervision. Some are of opinion that these
associations might still do immense good, if subordinated
to the Presbyteries and to the Assembly's Larger Church
Extension Scheme.
Two objects were contemplated in establishing this
Church Extension Scheme : (1) to aid in planting new
congregations in recently settled districts, and (2) to assist
with grants weak charges already existing. By the Assembly
of 1877 these two objects were separated, and the latter,
i.e. assisting weak charges, was entrusted to a Sustenta-
tion Fund Committee, of which the Rev. James Paterson
of Wellington was made convener. It was found, however,
that the new congregations which were planted under the
auspices of the Church Extension Committee soon came
to depend for their maintenance on aid from the
Sustentation Fund. The two objects were so intimately
connected, and in the practical carrying out ran into one
another to such an extent, that after a few years' experi-
ence it was considered better to unite them once more in
one scheme, managed by one committee. This was done
by the Assembly of 1882, and Mr. Paterson became
convener of the committee appointed to take charge of
" The Church Extension and Supplemental Fund."
Since that time, ably assisted by Rev. C. Ogg as treasurer,
he has continued to bring great wisdom and tact to bear
upon the management of this important scheme. Much
of the success to which it has attained is due to him.
253 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The subject of a Sustentation Fund with equal
dividend, as in the Free Church of Scotland and in some
of the Colonial Churches, has been often discussed in our
ecclesiastical courts, but has never issued in anything
practical. In the sister Church of Otago and Southland
a Sustentation Fund has existed from the very beginning,
but that Church had a great advantage over us in getting
it under weigh. The Southern Church was an off-shoot
from the Free Church of Scotland. The settlement itself
was a class settlement. Ministers and members, coming
almost exclusively from the Free Church, brought with
them the traditions and usages of that ecclesiastical
organisation. They knew what a strength the Sustenta-
tion Fund was at Home, and they were accustomed to its
working. It was comparatively easy for them, therefore,
to introduce it at once into their ecclesiastical arrange-
ments in this Colony. But the Church in the North had
quite a different origin and history. Its ministry and
members were drawn from all the Presbyterian Churches
of the Home land, and came with their various predilec-
tions for Church organisation and methods of ministerial
support. For many years, too, the Church in the NorLh
laboured under great disadvantage owing to the scattered
and isolated condition of many of its congregations, as well
as to the mixed character of their membership. This
hindered, no doubt, anything like a uniform system of
ministerial support such as the Sustentation Fund secures.
But through the great increase of population, and the
growth of the Church, and the greater facilities for com-
munication, these disadvantages have to a large extent
passed away. The Church has now become more con-
solidated, and can much more easily adopt uniform
methods. It certainly would not be so difficult now as in
former years to give practical effect to the idea of a
THE CHURCH EXTENSION SCHEME. 253
Sustentation Fund. However the Church Extension
scheme serves substantially the same purpose and is
worked to all intents and purposes on the same lines.
It aims at organising and fostering new congregations
where there is a reasonable prospect of their being soon
self-supporting, and at assisting weak charges by direct
grants from the fund, upon the recommendation of the
Presbytery of the bounds. Everything is done with the
concurrence and co-operation of the Presbytery.
Much in this way has been accomplished to extend
and consolidate the Church. During its existence the
Presbyterian Church of New Zealand has increased from
15 charges to about 100. More would have been effected
if the scheme had not been hampered for money and men.
The income for 1897, exclusive of donations of £100
each from the Church of Scotland and the Irish Pres-
byterian Church, was £509 12s 6d. Of this sum six
of our congregations contributed £250 or one half, St.
John's, WeUington, leading the way with £84 6s 9d.
When will the Christian Church as a whole realise its
responsibility to this fund, which in many respects is the
most important scheme of this young and growing
Colonial Church. It would be a delusion to suppose that
the Church Extension Fund has done all that it might
have done, or that the spiritual needs of this new land
have been adequately met. In many places it has only
touched the fringe of its obligations.
North of Auckland there are six counties (Mongonui,
Whangaroa, Hokianga, Bay of Islands, Hobson, and
Otamatea), with an area of 4000 square miles and a
population of 14,000, which has no minister or
missionary. In this district there is a place called
Kaipara, whose cry for ordinances was heard in 1862,
254 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
and whose pathetic appeal is still heard in vain. The
Rev. R. Ferguson of Devonport, who like some of
the other ministers of the Auckland Presbytery have
in pity been lately paying flying visits to this region,
reported recently that in one public school in Kaipara he
found 19 children who had never seen a Bible, or heard
of Christ or of God, 17 of these being white and two
half-caste ; and that an itinerant missionary in that
neglected district would be of the greatest advantage.
The country north of Auckland generally is, from a
spiritual point of view, exceedingly necessitous. The
whole of that part of New Zealand extending from within
12 miles of the city to the North Cape, with an area of
6650 square miles, a population of 36,000, including 8000
Maoris, and 82 public-houses, has only three ministers
and one missionary connected with our Church.
Across the middle of the North Island there are eight
counties (Raglan, Kawhia, Clifton, West Taupo, East
Taupo, Whakatane, Waiapu, and Wairoa), which have
21,000 people, 12,250 being Maoris. To supply this tract of
country with alcoholic spirits, there are 84 publicans who do
a " roaring" trade, and one solitary Presbyterian missionary
to counteract their evil influences and meet the district's
real moral needs. Ah I it is the spiritual, not the
spirituous, interests that here suffer.
In the Thames district there are four counties
(Thames, Piako, Coromandel, Ohinemuri, and Thames
borough), which, being rich in gold, have attracted a large
white population, of whom a good proportion are Presby-
terians. But how two ministers and three missionaries
are to undo the mischief of 64 grog shops and dispel the
avarice, worldliness, and ungodliness of its 22,500
inhabitants, no one in our communion has ever been able
to say.
LARGE DISTEICTS UN SUPPLIED. 25
The Taranaki district on the West Coast is a little
more advantageously situated. For its five counties
(Taranaki, Stratford, Hawera, Patea, Waitotara), its three
boroughs (New Plymouth, Hawera, and Patea), its 38, COO
souls, and its 62 man-traps, there are five ministers only.
Rev. S. S. Osborne, of New Plymouth, writing of this
region says : —
" In Inglewood, a town of 500 inhabitants, we have never broken
ground Round Mt. Egmont we will require three more
men, students or Home missionaries : one in Inglewood, one in
Eltbam, and one in Opunake, and this would mean £300 for a year
or two till they got established. To my mind it is really a money
question. The Church is not doing its duty financially in the
matter."
Lastly in the Wellington Province, out of a popula-
tion of 29,000, scattered over four counties (Pahiatua,
Wairarapa North, Wairarapa South, and Horowhenua),
and three boroughs (Masterton, Carterton, and Pahiatua),
and regaled at 48 public bars, there are 10,000 people
outside of Presbyterian influence. Some of these are
almost in heathen ignorance. Between 1891 and 1896
there was an increase of 6500 persons, but we have still
only three ministers to care for the spiritual concerns of
this wide district.
As to the South Island, settlement has not advanced
there so rapidly, though it, too, has its clamant needs. We
shall not, however, weary our readers with a further
rehearsal of the doleful tale. The entire Presbyterian
Church of New Zealand ought to weep in sackcloth
and ashes over the situation. Our rich members
ought to be ashamed of it. Spurgeon, in one of
his sermons, remarks, " Money is like an icicle, soon
found at certain seasons, and soon melted under
other circumstances." Would that love for the tens of
2S6 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBrTERIAN CHURCH.
thousands of dark and benighted souls at our doors caused
a great thaw to set in for the quickening of the Church's
life and the glory of God. Talk of a foreign missionary
field ? Is there not one here ? Could some of those 5000
volunteer missionary students of the universities of Europe
and America, who have signed the declaration, " 1 am
willing, if God permit, to become a foreign missionary,"
do better than devote themselves to work in this field ?
We do not promise them large stipends to begin with.
No true missionary will look for that. As Carlyle points
out, no man should ever expect to be paid for his real
work. All work worthy the name is an appeal from the
seen to the unseen, a devout calling upon the higher
powers, and except they stand by us it will be not a work
but a quackery. We can promise them a beautiful
climate, numerous kind and hospitable hearts who are
willing to hear the Gospel preached, much hard but
healthful riding, many degenerate souls to win, many
difficulties to overcome, and much honest toil that will
bring in due time, for a man of tact, energy, and spiritual
power, a sure reward. A wise man will not expect :
" No eye to watch and no tongue to wound us,
All earth forget, and all heaven around us."
Our past experience goes to show that he who casts him-
self unreservedly in faith upon God, and His people in
New Zealand, will not be allowed to go long without even
his pecuniary reward. Here, as elsewhere, he who goeth
forth weeping, bearing precious seed, shall return rejoicing,
bringing his sheaves with him.
A FRIEND OF EDUCATION. 257
CHAPTER XVI.
THE CHURCH AND EDUCATION.
The Presbyterian Church Constitutionally a Friend of Education —
The Church of the People— The Churches of the Reformation
and the Bible — John Knox's Scheme of Education for Scotland
— Education in the Mission Field — The First High School in
Canterbury — Champions of Education Past and Present —
Educational Work of Rev. G. Barclay in South Canterbury —
Difficulties of the Northern Church— The Church's First Pro-
nouncement on Education in 1863— A Theological Hall for Both
Churches — Her Efforts to raise the Standard of Education in
the Colleges and University — A National and Undenominational
System of Education — The Bible in the Public School —
University Honours.
Education as the discipline of the intellect, the regulation
of the heart, and the development of the whole man,
has always found a warm friend in the Presbyterian
Church. Our communion's sympathy with it is not of
a half-hearted nature. She has not befriended education
as a matter of convenience. She has not espoused it
because the tendency of the age is in that direction, and
it has become evident that if the Church did not keep pace
with the march of progress, her hold over her people, and
her prestige before the eyes of the world, should be gone.
Policy has had nothing to do with the attitude she has
taken up. Principle lies at the bottom of it all. Her
constitution is such that she cannot do otherwise. As
Dean Stanley points out, the Confession of Faith, more
than the creed of any other Church, emphasises the
Freedom of the Will. Her appeal is to a free and
enlightened people. In no country of the world has she
258 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
sought to enslave the human intellect for ulterior ends.
In no age has she considered it desirable to stand between
her people and the fullest enlightenment and culture
which it was in their power to possess. Founded on truth
and herself a lover of truth, her motto has always been
" Truth is mighty and will prevail." Providence has so
ordered it that this opening of the windows to the East
results in her ever receiving fresh accessions to her
strength, but this she does not seek so much as the glory
of her risen Lord, who is " the Way, the Truth, and the
Life." Some Churches have little by little been yielding
up the rights of the people, as more and more pressure
has been brought to bear upon them, but the Presbyterian
Church never at any time occupied that unenviable
position. She commenced her career by according them
their rights at the outset, and ever since she has been
known as the Church of the people. Extending to the
laity the fullest representation in her ecclesiastical courts,
the Presbyterian Church has always set before her as one
great end of her mission the enlightenment and elevation
of the masses, and the civil and religious liberty of the
people. She remembers the words of her Master, *' Ye
are the light of the world. A city set upon a hill cannot
be hid." She therefore believes not in
"Bioh windows that exclude the light
And passages that lead to nothing."
If, as the great dramatist says, it be true that
" Ignorance is the curse of God, Knowledge the wing
wherewith we fly to heaven," then it is a sound principle
to put every man in possession of the latter. It was a
great discovery, that the key of knowledge could turn both
ways, and open, as well as lock, the door of power to the
many.
THE CHURCH OF THE PEOPLE. 259
To this may also be traced in some degree the
reverence of the Presbyterian Church for the Word of
God as distinguished from human tradition, and her efforts
to have it translated into all known tongues, and placed in
the hands of every individual of Adam's race. When the
Reformers of the sixteenth century addressed the people
and cried, " Back to the Word of God," the Presbyterian
Church rejoiced, and put on its armour for the conflict.
Her set time had come. Every reformed communion
untrammelled by political influences assumed the dis-
tinctive features that are now known to characterise
the Presbyterian Church. As a result there came
good times for the million. The feudal spirit of the
Middle Ages took its departure. The power it had lodged
in the hands of the nobility and of a few ecclesiastics
ceased to be a monopoly. The Reformers had no ulterior
ends to serve. They simply sought to lift men up every-
where into the region of a virtuous and consecrated
character.
Nowhere did this spirit show itself more grandly than
in Scotland, where our forefathers did so much to give
tone to everything Presbyterian. When John Knox,
George Buchanan, and their coadjutors began their work
in Scotland, the people there, especially in the Highlands,
were lower in intelligence and in character than the in-
habitants of England. Before a century had passed the
tables were completely turned. Scotchmen rose in character
and mental equipment, and soon led the way in the regions
of literature, commerce, and missionary enterprise, and
from that time to this they have continued to stand
in the forefront of much of the world's progress. This
was unquestionably the result of the steps taken by Knox
and his fellow-workers to educate the Scottish people.
2G0 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
John Knox, in some quarters not well informed, is
looked upon as a compound of ignorance, fanaticism,
bigotry, and perhaps savagery, a man without a spark
of love in his nature for the aesthetic and beautiful, and
one who never experienced with Cowper that,
" Wisdom is a pearl, with most success
Sought in still water and beneath clear skies. "
Nothing could be farther from the truth. Himself
trained in a university, he very early in his career provided
a system of education for Scotland, which, in view of the
destiny of man and the character of the times, has not
been excelled by any modern system with all the
advances since made. His plan was to set up a school in
every parish, where the elements of a sound education that
did not exclude a knowledge of the Latin tongue, written
and spoken freely by himself, were carefully taught. In
these schools, unlike many of our modern institutions,
the culture of the moral faculty was not neglected. He
laid special stress on the teaching of the Geneva
Catechism and of the Word of God. In every town of
any importance he set up a secondary school, with a very
liberal curriculum. Here were to be taught the " arts, at
least logic and rhetoric, together with the tongues, by
sufficient masters." Provision was made by which the
poor and the landward people might share in the advantage
of these secondary schools.
He also made arrangements by which life and energy
were brought to the three universities which existed
in Scotland, and which had fallen into sad decay.
There were to be taught the arts and the sciences,
philosophy and law, the Greek and Hebrew tongues, and
divinity worth them all. His plan was that the universities
should be replenished from the secondary schools. Scots-
KNOX'S SCHEME OP EDUCATION. 261
men who were in sympathy with the Reformation, and
who had gone to the Continent of Europe to pursue their
studies he brought back to Scotland to act as professors
in the universities, and as rectors and teachers in the
secondary schools of the towns. His openly avowed pur-
pose was to secure cultivated men for the offices of State, for
the pulpits of the Church, and for business occupations.
At first circumstances compelled him to employ
readers for churches and schools in country districts,
under the care of superintendents, but that measure was
purely of a tentative character and only to continue
till suitable men could be trained to take up the chief
functions of the Christian ministry. His object was to
keep the latter in a high state of efficiency.
For all these schools, churches, and universities
he proposed an adjustment of the funds previously
devoted to ecclesiastical purposes, so that all the workers
within them should simply secure a " decent mainten-
ance." Knox's scheme was wide and discriminating, and
had he been left untrammelled in carrying it into force
the blessing to his country that would have followed
would have been largely increased. Unfortunately the
nobility and barons, aided materially by the clergy whom
the Scottish Church had been compelled by the State to
receive into her pale from the Episcopal section of the
community, appropriated to their own purposes a large
portion of the revenues. This considerably retarded the
work of education, both in its lower and higher aspects.
Still a force was set in motion and reached considerable
development, which has largely affected the Protestant
world, and contributed mightily to secure a widely-diffused
education for the young of all classes, and a highly-
cultivated order of ministers for the edification of grown-up
people in all lands.
262 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
There is another factor in the enlightenment of Scot-
land, also of an educational character, which it would be
a mistake to leave out. We may well exclaim, as the
celebrated Hugh Miller dealing with this sentiment some-
where says in substance, " Yes I Scotland doubtless does
owe much to her parish schools, but that fact should
always be associated with another which helped materially
to give it efifect, namely a clear and thorough-going incul-
cation of the Calvinistic faith from her pulpits." It was
that which chiefly contributed to the enlargement of
intellect, to the quickening of conscience, and to the
development of those properties among the Scottish people
which brought about the watchword,
" Duty, the command of heaven, the eldest voice of Gbd."
The minds and imaginations of men were roused by the
ministrations of her pulpits to seek after for themselves
and their children, growth in knowledge, and increase in
wisdom and power, as the best product of the love and
goodness of God to the world. The double process of
education in the highest sense of the term for men and
women, and education for the children went on together
and mutually helped each other. Scotchmen did not
ignore even the emotional in religion, but they were
always careful to have it resting on sound judgment, and
carried into life in union with thorough conceptions of
duty and of Christian truth.
The views of Knox and his co-workers on the subject
of education continue very largely to be the opinions of
Presbyterian people in every English-speaking country of
the world. Presbyterians have always sought light for
young and old as a matter of first importance to mankind,
and, in the interests of the dissemination of light itself,
EDUCATION IN THE MISSION FIELD. 263
they require a specially-educated class of men for their
pulpits, and, as far as they can in the changed times,
for the schools of every country.
In harmony with these views, the missionaries of the
Presbyterian Churches carry an educational policy with
them into their Foreign Mission undertakings. The
school is always the first point of interest with them.
So soon as the pupils show any fitness for it, the
secondary school is brought into requisition, and then
comes the college. To the preaching of the Word
at the beginning, and all the way through, they join a
keen care for education. The reason of this is obvious.
A heathen nation in its entirety, as such missionaries
soon discover, are not likely to be constrained to embrace
the Christian faith by men of another nationality.
That can only be brought about by the earnest efforts
of its own people. Foreigners may get a few of the
better spirits under their influence. These they must
educate into a clear and warm apprehension of the
Christian faith, and watch over them with untiring
zeal, until their Christian character becomes maturely
formed. When that stage is reached they send them
forth, with large confidence and hope, to the work
of winning their nation for Christ. The first concern ot
all missionaries is to find and qualify Native teachers for
their schools, and preachers for their pulpits. They follow
very much the same course that Knox did when he set
himself to win Scotland for the Lord. They begin with
the primary school, then pass to the secondary, and then
rise to the college. Witness the work of Dufi' in Calcutta, of
Wilson in Bombay, of Mateer of the American Mission,
and indeed of the Presbyterian missionaries in every
foreign field ; and you always find Presbyterian missionaries
264 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
working on the educational ground. The men sent forth
to the Foreign Mission field are all widely educated men,
and their aim is always to raise up an educated people.
Objection has now and again been taken to this method
of work in the Foreign Mission field by men of peculiar
emotional temperament. They say it is slow and expen-
sive, and often disappointing, and maintain that a better
work would be achieved by the simple evangelistic method
of preaching the Gospel. About 1877 this question
was keenly discussed in the General Assembly of the Free
Church of Scotland, and under the inspiriting influence of
Dr. Duff and others the present method of work in the Free
Church mission field was triumphantly defended and
maintained. That method is very elastic. It draws
sometimes on the elementary, and sometimes on the higher
education. Dr. Duff always recognised that the "nature
peoples " and the " culture peoples " must be treated
somewhat differently. It does not exclude even the evan-
gelistic presentation of the Gospel ; but in all cases it
seeks to lay a good foundation in a suitable Christian
education through men who are themselves possessed of
high culture and intelligence. Other discussions subse-
quent to that time have been carried on in the Press and
on the platform by members of the British Parliament
and other persons, calling in question the educational
method adopted in the foreign mission field, but they have
never made the slightest impression on any Presbyterian
community. So important has this educational form of
mission work been found in India, that other Christian
denominations have contributed financially to one of the
colleges founded by the Free Church of Scotland in that
part of the world, and the Methodist Church has provided
an ordained missionary as one of its professors. The
purely evangelistic mission found they had to fall back on
FIRST HIGH SCHOOL IN CANTERBURY. 265
the Mission College for the education of their converts,
and especially for the training of their native candidates
for the ministry. Every Board of Foreign Missions of the
Presbyterian Churches, the world through, has carried
out this policy of the Presbyterian Church, and places
a sound and liberal education for young and old at the
very base of its operations. Its members say very
justly, " if that has been the pathway to real and effective
Christian work in our various homelands, it is equally
the proper course to follow in the foreign mission field."
Such has been, and such, we are thankful to say, is the
present attitude of the Presbyterian Church to education
at Home, in the Colonies, and in the heathen world.
" 'Tis education forms the common mind,
Just as the twig is bent the tree's inclined."
On these lines the Northern Church has been laid
down in New Zealand. Carrying with them the genius of
their communion, and the traditions of the past, her early
ministers and members kept before them in this land the
advantages of a good education. At first it was a matter
for individual action, and men like Mr. Bruce of Auck-
land and Mr. Fraser of Christchurch exerted their energies,
and struggled with the difficulties of their times, in laying
a sound educational basis for the Church and country of
their adoption. As proof of this it may be mentioned
that teachers were brought out by them from Scotland,
through the ecclesiastical authorities at Home, with
as much care as if they had been ministers. The
Presbyterian churches were placed at their disposal for
their week-day work. The times have become changed
since then. Now the Church often holds services by favour
of the school ; then the school met and conducted its business
by favour of the Church. Many of these schools formed
266 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
the nuclei for flourishing congregations. Some of them
were of a very high order. Of such a nature was " the
academy " established by Mr. Fraser, and afterwards
turned by him and his Presbyterian friends (Dr. Lillie
from Tasmania, Dr. J. T. Turnbull, Messrs. Wilken,
Duncan, and Anderson), into the first High School in
Canterbury after the pattern of the High School, Edin-
burgh. Mr Fraser for a time took the higher classes
himself, and watched over the interests of the institution
with anxious concern. The Lyttelton High School had
also a high standing, and almost every large centre had
its first-class school, under the superintendence of Presby-
terian influence.
Prior to 1877 when the National System came into
vogue education was largely in the hands of the leading
denominations and managed by their representatives. On
this basis the Provincial Governments made rules and
regulations. Presbyteries received reports of the day
schools as well as of the Sabbath schools. One handed in
to the Auckland Presbytery in 1872 by the Rev. T. Norrie,
who has done much for education, may be taken as typical.
It stated that their were 27 day schools in operation,
" either aided or under the auspices of the various congre-
gations," that there were 1227 children on the roll, giving an
average attendance of 870, and that tiie amount received
during the year was £1510 8s 4d from fees, £914 4? lid
from the Central Board of Education, or £2824 8s 3d
in all, for the support of the teachers. Some of those
who represented the Presbyterian Church in those
early unsettled days, and did battle for the cause of
an undenominational and liberal education, hke Rev.
D. Bruce, Auckland, Rev. C. Fraser, Christchurch,
Bev. P. Barclay, Napier, and Mr. Campbell and Rev.
CHAMPIONS OF EDUCATION. 267
P. Calder, Nelson, have either gone to their account
or departed for other lands. Some, like Rev. J. Paterson,
Wellington, Rev. J. Ross, Turakina, Rev. T. Norrie,
Auckland, Rev. Dr. Sidey, Napier ; Rev. G. Webster,
Christcburch, and Rev. G. Barclay, Waimate, are still
with us serving on public educational boards and
advancing to the best of their ability the cause of
education. Take South Canterbury as an example.
No man has exerted such influence in shaping its
present educational system, and placing it on a sound
undenominational basis, as Rev. George Barclay. There
is scarcely a schoolhouse or teacher's residence in all
that well-equipped district he has not had a hand in
building, or a bye-law of the South Canterbury Education
Board he has not had a share in framing. The whole
working of primary education he has at his finger ends,
and he employs his knowledge for the advantage of the
remotest country district. Many a battle, too, he has
fought in the cause of higher education. The District
High School of Waimate, now so efficient, may be said to
owe its origin to him. The same is true of the Temuka
District High School. As to the Timaru High School, it
was born and cradled in a storm of virulent opposition,
and -Rev. W. Gillies had the honour of piloting it to a safe
haven in 1880, and for some time acted as the chairman
of its first Board, rejoicing in the triumph over jealousy
and false parsimony he had achieved. Persons of high
social position might chafe and fume, he was satisfied to
have a school that admitted the children of the poor as
well as the rich to the advantages of secondary education.
The Presbyterian Church of New Zealand has always
laboured under exceptional difficulties. Unlike her
Southern sister, the Church of Otago and Southland, and
268 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
the English communion that founded the Canterbury
settlement, she has not had the advantage of rich en-
dowments for establishing and equipping schools and
colleges. Her people, too, instead of being drawn from
one section of the Church animated throughout with
the same instincts educational and otherwise, have
come from all branches of the Presbyterian Church in
the Homeland. Some of them have belonged to Churches
whose doctrine and government are different from those of
the Presbyterian Church, but which as separate communions
have not established themselves in New Zealand. Still
the spirit of true Presbyterianism has always been
present. When fully organised she did not lose sight of
her duty towards the cause of education. In the report o'
the Committee appointed in 1862, and given in at
the second meeting of the General Assembly, we read of
the members hoping for better days and saying : —
" They advise that in the meantime much attention should be
paid to the establishment of really good schools, both common and
intermediate, and that the Church should urge on the various
Governments, General and Provincial, the importance of establishing
on a broad and unsectarian basis such intermediate schools and
colleges as should give an education at once scientific, classical, and
philosophical."
The report, which was unanimously adopted, went on
to express the opinion that this line of action would tend
to prevent the lowering of the ministerial standard and
pave the way for the Church's laying down a platform of
purely theological instruction. The evident design was to
secure a high grade of secular education in the State, and
then to establish theological halls in connection with her own
communion. One circumstance alone seems to have pre-
vented the carrying out of the latter intention. Union
with the Southern Church was not only in the air, but
THE THEOLOGICAL HALL. 269
apparently on the eve of being consummated. All the
facilities for theological training possessed by the latter
Church, it was thought, would be open to the former.
Moreover, a request came from the Otago Presbytery that
the Northern Church should co-operate with it in establish-
ing a theological hall in Dunedin for the benefit of both
Churches.
Accordingly, in 1864, the Assembly of this Church
passed the following resolution on the training of the
ministry : —
" That the facilities for attaining this important object are
much greater in Otago than many other parts of New Zealand, and
that the Assembly desire to express its willingness cordially to
co-operate with the Otago Presbytery in the prosecution thereof."
The practice of sending theological students to the
Divinity Hall, begun in early days, has continued to the
present. The only fault one can find with the Church in
the matter of following this good old custom is that
there has appeared in the Assembly a tendency to relax
this rule in case of students who are supplying neces-
sitous districts and appeal to its clemency. The special
grace consists in exempting them from attendance on
classes held in the Divinity Hall. The fewer such
special indulgences are granted the better for the Church,
though they are given apparently in the Church's interests.
In accordance with the policy laid down in 1863 we
find the College Committee reporting in 1874. It received
the thanks of the Assembly for taking up the attitude that
"Governors of Colleges must be informed that those
institutions according to their present constitution do not
afford the means of obtaining such a curriculum of literary
and scientific study as this Church has hitherto required
270 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
on the part of all her students." It was commended for
holding out a threat that if an improvement did not take
place students should be obliged to study arts as well as
theology in Otago or give up the idea of the ministry
altogether. For many years neither Auckland nor Canter-
bury would listen to representations made. No philo-
sopbical chair was set up and our students have been
obliged to go to Duuedin for a philosophical training.
Canterbury, however, now contemplates setting up a chair
of philosophy.
There is another fact which shows the service that
the Presbyterian Church has rendered in promoting the
cause of higher education in New Zealand It was the Otago
University, so largely under its influence, which induced
the New Zealand University to raise its educational
standard. The latter, to secure popular support, had
lowered its standard to that of the higher schools.
Otago, unmoved by the clamour for immediate results,
determined to raise the level of general education by
maintaining a high standard in its establishment. It
advocated the policy of levelling up instead of that of
levelling down. On this condition the Otago University
became incorporated with what has become a national
institution.
In 1875 the Assembly declared in favour of the
establishment of a national and undenominational system
of education, giving as its reasons for opposing a denomi-
national one,
" The insufficiency of the education secured, the misappropria-
tion of the public funds, dangerous favouritism, and the jealousies
and heartburnings engendered among ecclesiastical bodies in the
Colony."
BIBLE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 271
On this subject the Presbyterian Church of New
Zealand has given no uncertain sound. At the same time
it condemned the dropping out of the Education Act of
1877 the clause that made provision for the repeating of
the Lord's Prayer and the reading of a portion of Scripture
at the opening of the school, and has always strongly and
consistently advocated the introduction of the Bible into
the public schools of the Colony. Many a strong resolu-
tion has been passed for this purpose, and she will never
rest satisfied until the Bible gets its due place in the public
and national institutions of the country. Wellington,
who knew something of the power of discipline, once
remarked, " Educate men without a religion and you make
them clever devils." Kuskin, the apostle of culture, was
of opinion,
" Education does not mean teaching people to know what they
do not know, it means teaching to behave as they do not behave."
Such is the deep interest which the Presbyterian
Church of New Zealand has ever taken in the cause of
education, and such the clear and decided stand for which
she has always been distinguished. It is not by chance
but rather as a result of the Presbyterian Church's
constitution, teaching, and encouragement, that the Pres-
byterian students of New Zealand have carried off so
many of the honours provided by the New Zealand
University. Presbyterians in this country constitute only
22 per cent, of the population. According to this one
might reckon that m that proportion their students would
figure in the National University. But what is the fact ?
Anyone who looks down the honour list of the last New
Zealand University Calendar for students in Arts, will
find that during the decade beginning in 1887 and ending
in 1896, which is a sufficiently long period to form a good
272 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
test, almost one-half of the honour men have been
educated in the Presbyterian Church. This fact which
can be easily established may well be considered a credit
to any Church. As a result the majority of the head-
masters in many of the leading educational districts, which
are exercising such an influence upon the community^
belong to the Presbyterian communion.
THE VALUE OF A FREE PRESS. 273
CHAPTER XVII.
THE CHURCH AND THE PRESS.
The Value of a Free Press— The Press with no Gospel of Its Own —
The Restraints of Public Opinion -The Growth of the Press— A
Newspaper Reading Public— The Power of the Press— The
Advantages of a Sympathetic Attitude— What New Zealand
Presbyterian Church has Here Done — The Outlook— Other
Ways of Utilising the Press.
The spirit of indifference which the Presbyterian Church
in the past has shown towards the modern developments
of the Press, especially as regards questionable tactics and
tendencies, is not unaccountable. Presbyterians are
among the best educated and most enlightened citizens of
the State, and have been trained by history and experi-
ence to liberal ideas, a large outlook, and a free expression
of opinion. They believe that a free and outspoken Press
is a better safeguard for liberty than a standing army.
Moreover, the Church has nothing to fear from the Press.
In the spiritual sphere it is omnipotent. There the Press
cannot compete with it. The Press has no gospel of its
own to offer the world. Bereft of God it must become as
the country over which Byron sang his mournful dirge : —
*' Such is the aspect of this shore ;
'Tis Greece but living Greece no more !
So coldly sweet, so deadly fair,
We start, for soul is wanting there."
Any gospel it proclaims is borrowed from the Church.
Its success depends on the measure in which it faithfully
expounds and practically applies the life-giving truths of
the religion of Jesus Christ. Renan somewhere remarks
274 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
that the Apologists recognised that religion lies at the
basis of all human life, and then lie adds, " and they are
right." So they are. For this religion the Press must
draw upon the Church. The latter has a Law, a Faith, a
Gospel, a Life. Behind it stands God. It possesses a
standard of appeal to which all human actions must con-
form, and is in a position to defy the platform, the
Press, and public opinion combined, when these teem with
error, or embody a mere passing whim. With the
advantage of a pure Gospel and a living sympathetic
voice to expound it, there is no fear of the power of
the pulpit passing over to the Press. In municipal and
Parliamentary elections, and at times of Revolution and
Reformation, the multitude is swayed, not by the Press,
but by the human voice.
That much evil is wrought by an ungodly Press few
will deny. It is sad to think that in this new country,
where there is such an opportunity for throwing aside evil
traditions and laying afresh and well the foundations of
a healthy nation, a leading newspaper should devote ten
times as much space to sporting news as to literature and
science. This is surely catering for depraved tastes, and
fostering the gambling spirit that unfortunately pervades the
community. The power of the Press for evil, however, is
limited by public opinion, and public opinion is largely shaped
by the pulpit. Buckle says, " The history of Scotland is
the history of its pulpits and its General Assemblies."
John Bright once told the teachers of a country Sabbath
School in the North of England that they were doing
more to mould the character of the nation than he and his
friends were in the House of Commons. We have not far
to go for proof that the Press is not omnipotent in wrong-
doing. When on the 3rd of May, 1095, the Press of
BESTRAINTS OF PUBLIC OPINION. 275
England was emancipated, it might have been tliought
that it would have rioted in all manner of excess. Such
was not the case. There was a law of libel, of course, but
the purgation of the Press was effected not by magistrates
but by public opinion. During 200 years the liberty of
the Press has been growing more and more complete and
the restraints on writers more and more strict, so that
foreigners cannot understand how it is that the freest
Press in Europe is also the most moral. When Emerson
said of the London Times, " No power in England is more
felt, more feared, or more obeyed," his words must be
taken with a qualification. It is all powerful only as a
faithful exponent of the best traditions of the people, or as
a shrewd and far-seeing advocate of great moral reforms to
which society in its march of progress is tending. Its
power grows with the power of the people, and its influence
with the progress of education. The Times holds a leading
place among English newspapers because it has ears
everywhere, and its information is earliest, completest, and
surest.
If in a newspaper truth is sacrificed to party prejudice,
and political opponents are treated to vile epithets and all
their good deeds ignored or ascribed to evil motives, people
will be sure to set it down to the exigencies of party politics.
If a paper panders to popular sentiment when that senti-
ment reveals a depraved taste, readers will know to set it
down to a desire to make the venture at all hazards a
paying concern. If so-called society journals and other
prints of a low type, are spiced with the sensations of the
hour ; if the records of the Police Court, the filthy gossip
of the club, sporting-house, and gambhng hell, are served
up in them with unfeeling brutality ; then the nati^ral
instincts of most men will induce them to turn away
276 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
with loathing from such literary pabulum. Readers will
not forget : —
" Of all the passions that possess mankind,
The love of novelty rules most the mind ;
In search of this from realm to realm we roam,
Our fleets come fraught with every folly home."
If a religious magazine teaches questionable doctrine,
or hounds down a Dods, or a Bruce, or a Drummond, or an
" Ian Maclaren," every independent man worthy of the
name will examine the subject of discussion in the light
of his own conscience and of the Word of God.
On the other hand, the Church would do well to
recognise that the Press, in the capacity of a friend and
ally, is undoubtedly a power for good, as it may also become
a power for evil. We need to reconsider our relationship to
the Press, Its growth in modern times is simply marvellous.
Instead of the old hand-press with its 250 pages per hour,
the modern press can print its 384,000 per hour. In 1857
there were 711 newspapers published in the United King-
dom. In 1891 there were 4000, with an annual circula-
tion of about a thousand million. Forty years ago the
Post Office carried 36,000,000 newspapers, now it carries
250,000,000. In the United States in 1850 there were
235,000,000 copies of dailies issued. In 1890 there were
1,981,000,000.
This Colony will compare favourably with any country
of the world in regard to the number of its newspapers.
It has 60 dailies, 28 tri-weeklies, 30 bi-weeklies, 63
weeklies, 3 fortnightlies, 26 monthlies, or 200 in all. Of
the circulation of these it is difficult to speak with
certainty, but there can be no doubt about its being larger
in proportion to the population than in Great Britain. In
THE POWER OF THE PRESS. 277
New Zealand there is a newspaper to every 3700 inhabi-
tants, while in Great Britain and Ireland there is only one
for every 10,000. By the Post-Office in this country there
were carried in 1897 11, 261, 345, or at the rate of 17-36
per head of the population. By the Post Office at Home
there were carried only 6 per inhabitant. It may be that
newspaper readers in New Zealand, man for man, buy
more papers to peruse than in the Home Land, where
one paper often serves for many, but this alone will not
account for the difference. We have undoubtedly a ncAVs-
paper reading public. The Press here exercises a marvel-
lous power, in reaching the people, in carrying ideas and
information, in moulding opinion, in determining char-
acter, in influencing men, and in initiating measures for
the good or evil of the community.
The power wielded by the Press is acknowledged by
all. Carlyle thinks that the writers of Paris were the real
authors of the French Revolution, and designates such
penmen " the powerfuUest of all, the least recognised of
all," and speaks of the great powers that are adapting
themselves to the new times and its destinies. Every Free
Churchman knows that the Witness, under the editorship
of Hugh Miller, was a mighty force in bringing about the
Disruption. Dr. Bayne says : —
" Of the influence exerted upon the public mind of Scotland by
Hugh Miller's articles in the Witness on the Church question there
are thousands still living who can speak. A year or two before the
Disruption I passed a winter in a Highland manse. I was too
young to form a distinct idea of the merits of the dispute, but there
was a sound then in the air which I could not help hearing. It
seems as if it were in my ears still. Never have I witnessed so
steady, intense, enthralling an excitement, and I have no difliculty,
even at this distance, in discriminating the name which rung loudest
through the agitated land. It was that of Hugh Miller — the people's
friend, champion, hero !"
278 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The Press lias also grown in cleverness. Men of
talent are put into the editorial chair ; energetic reporters
are sent to every public meeting ; striking headlines are
used to catch the eye ; serial stories run through many
numbers ; matter to amuse and entertain as well as in-
struct is inserted ; newsboys cry it up in the street ; and
copies embellished with all the skill of modern art are
sent into every home as regularly as the contents of the
milk cart. It is foolish to close one's eyes to the fact that
the modern Press is a mighty power in the land, and that
it has come to stay.
What attitude ought the Church to take up towards
the Press ? Undoubtedly it ought to be one of friendliness.
The Church will gain nothing by looking on it as hostile,
which as a whole it is not. It ought to get into fuller
sympathy with it, taking for its motto :
" Still in thy right hand carry gentle peace.
To silence envious tongues."
It must not be too strait-laced in regard to modern
methods of disseminating information. Just as we con-
form to many of the rules of modern society although we
do not believe that there is much in them, so it becomes
the Church to respect the etiquette of the Press in matters
indifferent. Nay, it is incumbent on her to remember
the well-known truth given expression to by Pope ;
" Who ever thinks a faultless piece to see,
Thinks what ne'er was, nor is, nor e'er shall bo."
The Church ought to seek to guide the movements of
the Press, purifying its matter, elevating its tone, and
converting its opinions into principles. Here is a new and
little cultivated field that will yield an abundant crop.
THE CHURCH AND ITS PAPERS. 279
f
What has the Presbytei'ian Church of Ne^\ Zealand done
to cultivate it ? The record insignificant as it is must be
given.
The efforts of this Church have been chiefly directed
towards supplying for its own people a religious magazine
of a high tone and character. In most Churches and
countries such an undertaking has been an uphill task.
In the United States of America, the Colonies of Great
Britain, and indeed all over the world, the experience of
the Church is that it is somewhat difficult to get the
support for an exclusively religious paper that will keep its
Editor from starving, and give it a long, strong, and
vigorous life. New Zealand is no exception.
Although the first General Assembly appointed a
Committee on the " Establishment of a Periodical," which
recommended before the close of its sittings in 1862,
*' That a religious periodical be established in connection
with the Presbyterian Church as soon as possible," and
instructed it to find out what support could be calculated
on, nothing was done for many years. The Committee,
having effected nothing, wq,s dissolved in 1867, when
it was reported that the Rev. C, Eraser had started in 1866,
on his own responsibility, a small magazine called The
New Zealand Presbyterian, and that it was serving a good
purpose. This periodical was published quarterly, contained
about 40 pages, and although distinctively Presbyterian,
and careful to give prominence to topics of interest within
the Colony, it aimed at being Catholic and evangelical in
its sympathies and aspirations. The name of the publica-
tion was afterwards changed to The Canterhury Presbyterian
and Record of Church News, its size being 5^ x 8 J, and con-
tents remaining very much as before. It was the organ
of the " Canterbury Church Extension Association," and
280 HISTORY OF N.Z. rRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
as an 1873 issue expresses it, found it " exceedingly
difficult to maintain a denominational periodical under
the control of a Committee."
Meantime the Presbyterians in Auckland, thinking
that their corner of the vineyard would receive more
attention at the hands of a magazine published in
their midst, determined to follow the example of Christ-
church. They brought out on January 1st 1872 The New
Zealand Presbyterian Magazine. It size and plan were
similar to those of its Canterbury contemporary, and its
Editor was the Rev. R. Sommerville. One of its special
features was that each number contained for a time an
historical sketch of the rise and progress of one of the
congregations of the Auckland Presbytery or some Presby-
tery adjoining. It also had usually a sermon from a pen of
a minister of the Church, which it carried with it into
scenes of retirement where a preacher's voice was not
heard. Not the least interesting part of it was " The
Children's Column." In 1873 Mr. Sommerville changed
its name to The Presbyterian Church Neirs, and its dimen-
sions from 5^ x 8| to 9 x 11. Notwithstanding, it does
not seem to have met with the desired success, although
supplying a great want, for in 1876 we find the Editor
complaining of being left by the subscribers for want of
funds too much at the mercy of the printer. Strictly
speaking, as it frequently reminded its readers, it was not
the organ of the Church, and yet many availed themselves
of it as if it were.
In 1886 the General Assembly recommended the
Committee on a " Church magazine " to form a publishing
company, thinking that course would be preferable to
having an organ which every member of the Church might
fancy he had the right to comment upon. The Committee,
"THE CHRISTIAN OUTLOOK." 281
however, found that the formation of such a company
would entail a legal manager, and a heavy registration fee.
Instead, it entered into correspondence with Rev. M.
Watt, of Green Island, the responsible Editor of The
Neiv Zealand Presbyterian established by the Synod of
Otago and Southland in 1880, and of which Professor
Salmond had been Editor for a time. Mr. Watt proposed
to place half the space of the periodical at the disposal of
the Northern Church on condition that one of the brethren
of that Church in each of the leading provincial centres
gathered up the ecclesiastical intelligence of the district,
and forwarded a digest of it for publication. The Assembly
agreed to this proposition, and appointed Rev. W. Gillies,
Timaru, Sub-Editor for the Northern Church, and a number
of correspondents suitably situated to assist him. In spite
of this management complaints continued to be made as
to the manner in which the interests of the Church were
served, and more than one committee formed for the
purpose turned its eyes in various directions to find a
remedy. At length in 1894 the Assembly passed a
resolution,
" That the Christian Outlook, the new paper of the Otago
Church, receive the cordial support of the whole Church."
How true it is that,
" Light flashes in the gloomiest sky,
And music in the dullest pain."
Under the able editorship of the Rev. R. Waddell,
M.A., D.D., the Christian Outlook has attained to a high
place in religious journalism.
The Christian Outlook is the latest and ablest effort
our Church has made to supply the homes of our people
with the freshest and best that consecrated talent and
282 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Christian literature can produce. It has given forth no
uncertain sound on the master sins of our social life. Its
special issues on " Gambling," " Temperance," and "The
Bible in Schools" have been of the highest ability and
the utmost value. Its Notes on " The Week " are
marked by clear insight, wide culture, and rare wisdom.
Public measures, as they present themselves, are weighed
by it in an impartial spirit, with care proportioned to
their importance, and with reference not to the party with
which they may chance to originate, but to the principles
they are found to involve. Its mission is to elevate public
opinion, cultivate Christian character, create a truer spirit
of consecration, and make the ideals of Jesus Christ the
spirit and experience of every Christian. It is the organ
of righteousness, the advocate of purity, the champion of
progress, and the friend of all spiritual men and moral
movements that make for the glory of God and the good of
man. The British Weekly, the Free Church Monthly, and the
Southern Cross praise it, while the Australasian Editor of the
Review of Reviews says it is the best religious journal in the
Colonies. It contains reading for old and young, and is a
great help to ministers, teachers, parents, and children.
The General Assembly urges every loyal Presbyterian to
support it. Out of a Presbyterian population of 150,000,
its present circulation is less than 4000, whereas it ought
to be 40,000. Look at what the Salvation Army has done.
In one year its printing presses have issued 51,000,000
publications. It has 53 distinct newspapers and magazines
published in fifteen difi'erent languages. These are circu-
lated by voluntary workers, and produce a revenue of
about £200,000 a year.
Clearly the present duty of the Church is to place the
Christian Outlook on a sound financial basis. This is the
UTILISING THE PRESS. 283
first requisite, and it is easy to accomplish. A little united
effort is all that is required. With the organisation at
their disposal, the Presbyterian Churches of New Zealand
ought to make this weekly as prosperous from a financial
point of view, as it is from a literary and religious. It
ought to be placed beyond the reach of pecuniary anxiety.
Great improvements are being made in the Outlook.
Its enlargement to 32 pages makes it the largest and
cheapest weekly paper of the kind in the Colony. It will
be a marvel if its subscribers continue to number only
between three and four thousand. Every member of the
Church, and especially every office-bearer, ought to feel it
incumbent on him to accord it a hearty support when he
knows that the reception accorded to it during the coming
year will determine how long it shall be issued by the new
publishers.
Then the Church ought to see that the business of her
various courts is well and faithfully recorded in the leading
Colonial papers, and ought to encourage her office-bearers
and members individually to make a larger use of the
Press than they have hitherto done. Many in this
Church, it is to be feared, hide their light under a bushel
instead of placing it on a candlestick that it may give
light to all that are in the house. It would be well if, for
the sake of the people who live in this Colonial house and
whose eyes are not dazzled with religious light, our
ministers got rid of a little of their modesty and reserve.
A big effort, it is said, is being made just now by the
Romish Church to capture the Press, and the columns of
leading newspapers all over the world have been teeming
of late with information regarding its teaching and work,
and not without fruit. In that direction we might
accomplish much without " Vaticanising history " or
284 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
throwing dust in the air. The plain facts of a noble past
and an honest present have only to be told. Arrangements
might be made in many districts to have a portion of the
local paper set apart weekly in the interests of Temperance,
Christian Endeavour work, pulpit utterances, and other
information regarding the life and working of the Church.
Ministers of strong congregations might with much benefit
follow the example of the late Rev. Mr. Treadwell, who
in "Wanganui for many years edited The Messen[/er, with
great relish to himself and not without profit to others.
He found that he could say many things there which were
unsuitable for the pulpit, or for which there was not room
in the ministrations of the sanctuary. Such a publication
might grow to be a light for a whole Province. Congre-
gations who feel inclined might provide a supplement
containing local information which could be added to any
other reputable religious journal selected.
Something deeper than ecclesiastical rivalry ought to
stimulate us to bestir ourselves. The interests of truth
are at stake. How can Editors of the agnostic class, who
seem to be increasing in number, do justice to the religious
verities of life ? The world wants qualified pressmen as
well as qualified preachers of the Gospel.
THE FOKEIGN MISSION. 285
CHAPTER XVI [I.
MISSIONS.
(1) The Foreign Mission — The Story of the Dayspring. (2) The
Maori Mission. (3) The Chinese Mission.
(1) P^oREiGN Mission.
The London Missionary Society was the first to attempt
mission work in the New Hebrides. For a considerable
time little was accomplished. In the year 1889, John
Williams and Mr. Harris, on landing upon Erromanga, were
killed and eaten by the savages. In 1842, Messrs. Turner
and Nisbet began work on Tanna, but about six months
after landing they had to escape for their lives. Native
teachers from Samoa and Raratonga were placed on
different islands of the group, but they were murdered by the
cannibals, or died from fever, or were removed in a dying
state. The first effective occupation was in 1848, when
the Rev. John Geddie, afterwards Dr. Geddie, com-
menced labouring on Aneityum. The success that
attended the labours of the first missionary in the Islands
is briefly but strikingly recorded on a tablet erected behind
the pulpit of the church at Anelgauhat, Aneityum," when
he (John Geddie, D,D.) landed in 1848, there were no
Christians here, and when he left in 1872 there were no
heathens."
" Sound the loud timbrel o'er Egypt's dark sea,
Jehovah has triumphed, His people are free."
1898 was thus the year of Jubilee for the New Hebrides
Mission. The beginning of the second half-century of
mission work in these islands is an appropriate time for
286 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
drawing attention to the part that this Church has played
in their evangelisation. In 1852 the Rev. John Inglis, of
the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland, after eight
years' missionary work among the Maoris on the Mana-
watu River, and pastorless Presbyterians in various parts
of New Zealand, sailed for Aneityum in the " Border
Maid," which was kindly placed at his disposal by Bishop
Selwyn. Thus the first connection between New Zealand
and the New Hebrides group was established. Messrs.
Geddie and Inglis soon felt the need of something better
than an open boat, if they were to extend their labours
beyond Aneityum. So a small schooner of some 15 tons,
named the "John Knox," was provided by the Reformed
Presbyterian Church of Scotland. Her running expenses
were defrayed by kind friends in Auckland, headed by Mr.
Archibald Clark. From that day to this New Zealand
has assisted in the maintenance of inter-island com-
munication in the New Hebrides Group. In the first
published account of the "Dayspring," issued in 1864, we
find that a sum of £81 was sent from Auckland. In
1865 the Rev. Joseph Copeland, the first New Hebrides
missionary to visit New Zealand, made a tour of this
Colony. Besides creating a deep and lasting impression
by his addresses, he obtained a considerable sum of
money, which formed the nucleus of what has since been
known as the " Dayspring Insurance Fund."
The General Assembly of 1862 selected the New
Hebrides as a Foreign Mission field, and thought that the
faith of the united Presbyterian Church of New Zealand
ought to be equal to the maintenance of one missionari/ in
the Islands. When the prospects of Union with her
Southern sister vanished into thin air, she still clung to
the ideal of one missionary for the New Hebrides, but for
THE NEW HEBRIDES. 287
years nothing practical was done beyond accumulating a
Foreign Mission Fund at the rate of £100 per annum.
Stirred up by Mr. Copeland's earnest addresses, the Church
resolved to engage more directly in the work. At the
suggestion of Mr. Copeland, a correspondence was opened
up with the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland
with a view to the transfer of one or more of its six
missionaries then labouring in the New Hebrides to the
care of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, just as
the Victorian Church had adopted Mr. Paton, and Mr.
Geddie (one of four Nova Scotian missionaries in the same
group). The instruction given by this Church to the Com-
mittee on Foreign and Maori Missions was to procure if pos-
sible, without delay, the services of Mr. Copeland of Futuna,
Mr. Inglis of Aneityum, or both, for Mission work in the
New Hebrides, under the superintendence of this Church.
Each missionary, it was understood, would cost £150 per
annum. Mr. Kay, the Convener of the Reformed Church,
loath to part with the services of so distinguished mission-
aries, except they themselves desired it, suggested the name
of a worthy theological student, Mr. William Watt, whose
offer of service in the foreign field was then in the hands
of the Foreign Mission Committee. To the arrangement
this Church at once gave its assent. Mr. Watt's theo-
logical course not being finished, and medical classes
having to be attended, it was not until the beginning of
1868 that he was ordained, and with his young wife
started for the future scene of his labours. They embarked
on board the " White Star" at Liverpool on June 8th 1868,
and arrived in Melbourne in the end of August. Finding
that there was no prospect of getting to the New Hebrides
at once, they were advised to proceed to New Zealand and
await the " Dayspring," which was to visit this Colony at the
end of that year. Taking passage on board the ' ' Rangitoto, ' '
288 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
they landed at Wellington about the same time as the
Rev. James Paterson of that city, who was afterwards
for a time Convener of the Foreign Mission Committee.
The pecuniary arrangement made with Mr. Watt was
that he was to get an allowance for house building of £30
and a salary of J6120. The latter was raised in 1871 to
£150, and afterwards to £200.
According to appointment, the " Dayspring" arrived at
Dunedin at the close of 1868, and there Mr. Watt, afte*^
visiting as many parts of the Church as time would
permit, joined her. Here he met Rev. Mr. Inglis and Dr.
Macdonald of Melbourne, who came to New Zealand to
raise additional money for the Dayspring Insurance Fund.
The sum contributed by the Northern Church for this
purpose was at that time £625.
Reaching the New Hebrides early in April 1869, our
first Foreign missionary was settled on Tanna by the
Mission Synod, which met in that island the following
month. Mr Watt was not the first to attempt breaking
ground in this portion of the group. In 1858, the Revs.
Messrs. Paton, Copeland, and Matheson, and in 1860, Mr.
Johnston, had been placed on Tanna. Their missionary
career there was short. Mr. Copeland, after a few months,
was removed to Aneityum. Mr. Johnston died after a
savage attempt to take the life of himself and that of Mr.
Paton. Mr. Paton, now Dr. Paton, who fled taking
only the clothes he stood in with him, and Mr. and Mrs.
Mathieson, the last of the band, left the island in 1862, and
no missionary had since occupied it. The name, " Dark
Tanna" had already been well earned. Mr. Watt's
station was named Kwamera. For a short time he
was assisted by Mr. Neilson, to whom a few months
previously had been assigned a station at Port Reso-
MB. WATT IN THE NEW HEBRIDES. 289
lution. When the latter left in 1882, the two stations
were combined under one missionary. From 1868 till
1885, Mr. Watt was the only representative of our
Church in the New Hebrides. During that period his
labours were of a most arduous kind. "Without were
lightings ; within were fears." Often the lives of himself
and wife were in danger. Their aim was to take the more
intelligent Natives into their household, and train them as
teachers at Kwamera, where a Native church was built and
Mission buildings erected, and then to station the teachers
at the villages and other centres of population in the
interior of the Island, where they might open schools and
conduct religious services. In this way he sought to spread
a network of Scripture agencies under his superintendence
all over the Island. The plan was a good one, but unfortu-
nately internecine war has often stepped in to break up
these outposts, and compel the withdrawal of the teachers.
Mr. and Mrs. Watt well earned their furlough in 1878.
In 1885, a fellow labourer in the Mission field was
provided by the Church for Mr. Watt, but designed to take
up work on a separate Island, that of Ambrym, vacant
by the death of the Rev. W. B. Murray, M.A. The
Rev. Charles Murray, M.A., brother of Ambrym's late
missionary, had his attention, when quite a lad, drawn
to the Mission field. Dr. Moffat's "Travels and Mission
Work in Bechuanaland " impressed him with the claims of
Africa in particular ; but the Church not being prepared to
send him there, at the suggestion of Dr. Inglis, who was
acting for this Church, he chose his late brother's field of
labour.
Mr. Murray, with his wife, arrived in New Zealand in
January, 1885, and was at once ordained by the General
Assembly in Christchurch, and, subject to the approval of
290 HISTORY OP N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
the Mission Synod, appointed to Ambry m. In that year
this Church took over from the Church of New South
Wales at a valuation whatever property the latter had in
the Island. Ambrym thus became the second Mission
field of the Church. The kindness shown to his brother was
at once extended to him. The Natives were delighted to
have a missionary once more amongst them. In March
1886 a severe blow fell upon Mr. Murray and the Mission
in the death of his wife. She was eminently qualified
through a Normal School training and years of experience
in teaching to interest and instruct the Natives, and when
she passed away was greatly missed and lamented. It
shows the aptitude of some of the Ambrymese youth, that
a lad, now a teacher at the old Mission station of Ranon,
learned the alphabet in about half an hour.
For some time Mr. Murray laboured on alone, but
having been repeatedly attacked by fever and ague and
greatly prostrated, as a means of saving his life he was
obliged to leave the Island in May, 1887. He is now
minister of Feilding.
On April 26th, 1894, Mr. Watt was visited with an
affliction similar to that experienced by Mr. Murray. On
the morning of that day ho lost his wife and invaluable
helpmate, "the mother" of the Tannese Mission. For
nearly twenty-five years she laboured earnestly and
lovingly to win the hearts of " dark " Tanna's nihabitants
to Christ. Quarterly Jottin<js, referring to her, says : —
" She was one of the cheeriest of spirits, and at the same time
one of the most devoted workers for the salvation of these Islands
that Christ ever gave to the New Hebrides. Her circular letters,
year by year, were full of the finest touches of human love and
kindly humour, and yet at the same time imbued with an intense
devotion to the poor heathen, and a perfectly w )nderful and iuspir-
APPOINTMENT OF DR. LAMB. 291
ing application of the words of Scripture to all their needs and trials,
hopes and fears. . . . The women and girls clung to her as
their mother, and she will have many of them for her crown in the
day of the Lord."
Undaunted, Mr. Watt remained at his post, and put
forth renewed efforts for the conversion of the heathen
over whom his wife yearned. With a self-denial worthy
of all praise, he declined to avail himself of the furlough
granted to him, and made up his mind to labour as a
missionary of this Church idthout salary, in order that
the Church might be enabled to appoint another missionary
to Tanna, the most difficult of all the New Hebrides
mission fields. A few years elapsed before that appoint-
ment was made. Meantime the Church appreciated the
sacrifice made by its oldest missionary. Future history
will record that he hath done this.
Turning to Ambrym, we find the Chief of Ranon
and others applying for a missionary in vain. Efforts
made to supply Mr. Murray's place were for a con-
siderable time fruitless. At length Dr. Robert Lamb,
a son of the New Zealand Church, was appointed
second missionary, and being ordained by the General
Assembly of 1892, at Auckland, he arrived in the group in
April of that year. After visiting several islands to find a
suitable place for the establishment of the first medical
mission in connection with the New Hebrides, he selected
Ambrym. He had the old Mission house removed from
Ranon to Ranior, beheving the latter to be a more
healthy site. It seemed as if God meant at the outset to
try the faith of Ambrym's missionaries and of the whole
Church. A series of disasters came in quick succession.
A hurricane swept over the island on March 4th 1893,
levelling the Mission Buildings at Dip Point, entailing the
loss of Dr. Lamb's two young twin sons, and leaving ruin
292 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
everywhere in its track : the next year a fire burnt down
the structure erected by the houseless missionaries out of
the debris of the storm : a volcanic eruption following soon
after threatened to leave Ambryni without an inhabitant :
all this in addition to the usual sickness and death fell
upon the island and its inhabitants. Notwithstanding we
find Dr. Lamb pleading in New Zealand for a hospital
establishment, and writing in a spirit of true heroism to
the General Assembly of 1895, through its convener, Rev.
W. Grant :—
Yet we are quite pi'epared to go forward in Christ's strength
and to do our best if the Church will say the word.
The Church said the word and Dr. Lamb, and his co-
workers prepared to return to the scene of so many trials
with unabated enthusiasm. The diificulty of raising the
£1000 required for the Hospital Buildings was soon sur-
mounted. The Church made a liberal grant out of the
Mission Funds ; warm-hearted members of our communion
sent in donations ; Mr. Mansfield toured New Zealand
with his magic lantern, eliciting sympathy everywhere ;
Dr. Lamb solicited aid in the Homeland ; settlers and
traders in the islands contributed liberally ; and other
Churches directly interested in the New Hebrides Mission
made small grants. Not the least to profit by this mission
are the missionaries themselves throughout the Group
with their wives and children. Following as it does
the lines laid down by Christ Himself when He was on
earth, this medical mission has become most popular, and is
destined to become a most powerful agent in the evangeli-
zation of the Islands. The cure of their physical maladies
is often the shortest way to the hearts of the heathen.
The Church had the honour of making another new
departure when, as helpers to Dr. Lamb, it appointed at
DE. LAMB'S WOEK ON AMBEYM. 293
the same time two lay missionaries, one of whom, Mr.
Mansfield, late of Timarn, is still doing a good work in
Ambrym, being left in temporary charge of the Mission.
Events on Ambrym suggest the words of Paul,
" How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways
past finding out." Just at the time when most en-
couraging reports of Dr. Lamb's work were coming from
the Island, the sad news reaches us that Dr. Lamb him-
self, the chief spoke in the Mission wheel, is obliged
through sickness to leave Ambrym and for a time seek
health in one of the warm dry climates of the Australasian
Colonies. Whether he shall ever return to the work he
loves must depend upon circumstances. He is the third
missionary on Ambrym whose labours have been inter-
rupted by disease or death. Now comes the further sad
news that Mr Mansfield has been obliged to come to Sydney
to receive medical treatment for an accident to his eye.
These calamities, accompanied by Nature's convulsions,
constrain assent to the thoughts of Cowper : —
" God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform ;
He plarfts His footsteps on the sea,
And rides upon the storm."
Seeing that Ambrym is so fertile and so thickly populated,
and that the great bulk of the heathen of the group is in
its neighbourhood, it is satisfactory to know that the
Medical Mission has got a firm hold there, and that there
are 14 Native churches and 28 teachers, trained or in
training. Many of the latter are "boys" returned from
Queensland. In this respect it differs from Tanua which
reports a dearth of teachers. The supporting of these
teachers, who cost £G each, and the providing of cots for
the Hospital has been a means of grace to many a
congregation throughout the Church.
294 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
At last Mr. Watt got his heart's desire. After fruitless
negotiations in more directions than one, Mr. Alexander
Gillies, son of the Eev. David Gillies, of Orphir, Orkney,
was secured as a second missionary for Tanna. It is
interesting to note that Mr. A. Gillies acted for a time as
Home Missionary in connection with the same mission
that Dr. Patou served before he came to the same Island.
Having finished his theological course, he was ordained in
his father's church, and with his wife reached Tanna
in the end of October 1897. This addition to the
missionary staff necessarily entailed considerable ex-
penditure not only in connection with passage and
outfit, but also the preparation of a second suitable
residence on Tanna, and will in future add greatly to the
responsibilities of this Church. It is to be hoped it will
nobly rise to the occasion. Self-denial like that of Mr.
Watt should shame the whole Church into doing its
duty and loyally standing by its devoted New Hebrides
missionaries. The day is at hand. Even Tanna is show-
ing signs of the dawn : —
" Sing, ye islands of the sea ;
Echo back, ye ocean waves :
Earth shall keep her jubilee,
Jesus saves ! Jesus saves I "
The Stoky of the " Dayspring."
Prior to 18G1 contributions both in money and kind
had been sent from New Zealand to the New Hebrides,
part of which was used in meeting the expenses of the
Mission schooner " John Knox." This small vessel of 15
tons paid frequent visits to the four southern Islands of
Futuna, Tanna, Aniwa, and Erromanga. To this restricted
sphere her humble services were confined.
THE STOIIY OF THE " DAYSPRING." 295
In 1861 the movement began which resulted in the
" Dayspring." In that year a proposal came from the
missionaries on the Loyalty Islands for a larger vessel.
They felt the need of some means of visiting their teachers
regularly, and so they proposed to the missionaries on the
New Hebrides that both should unite and get a vessel to
do the work of the two Missions, which then, and for some
time after, were worked together. In response, the
missionaries of the New Hebrides resolved : —
" That an appeal be made to the children of the two Churches
and to the children of the various Presbyterian Churches in the
Colonies of Australia and New Zealand to aid in raising funds
necessary for her purchase and support, and that Messrs. Geddie and
Copeland be appointed to address them on the subject."
This resolution was passed under a deep shadow.
Wave after wave of trial had broken over the Mission.
Messrs. Paton and Mathieson had been driven from
Tanna. Of the little band labouring in the Islands,
Johnston and G. N. Gordon had fallen, the former having
gone to his rest after a brief service of seven months
on Tanna, and the latter with his wife having been
barbarously murdered by the Natives of Erromanga.
Mr. Inglis was in Britain, and so Geddie, Copeland,
Mathieson, and Paton were all that were left. Although
thus sorely stricken, they courageously took further
measures for the advancement of the cause that was so
dear to their hearts. In February 1862 it was resolved,
" That Mr. Paton be sent to visit the Australian Colonies,
and bring the claims of the New Hebrides Group as a
Mission field before the Presbyterian Churclies there, and
also to invite the co-operation and aid of the Sabbath
School children in the purchase and support of a missionary
ship." Dr. Paton presented the claims of the mission
as they had never been presented before. He travelled
296 HISTORY OF N.Z. PEESBYTEEIAN CHURCH.
thousands of miles, addressed hundreds of meetings, and
in about fifteen months had raised £5000, besides paying
all expenses. Of this sum £3000 was devoted to building
a mission vessel, and £2000 to providing outfit, passages,
&c., for additional missionaries. To Nova Scotia was
given the honour of building the new vessel, and the
" Dayspring " was launched in September 1868. It was
a brigantine whose length of keel was 78 feet, breadth of
beam 2-i feet, depth of hold 10 feet, and whose cost was
£3800. On her first trip to the Islands she had three
new missionaries on board, one of them being the Rev.
J. D. Gordon, who went forth in Christ's name to convert
the murderers of his brother and his brother's wife on
Erromanga.
The trials that had befallen the New Hebrides Mission
were thus overruled for the furtherance of the Gospel in
the Group far beyond what the most sanguine could have
expected. In 1864 the Mission had at its service a vessel
capable of going anywhere and doing any work required
of her. When the " Dayspring " put in her first appearance
in Port Philip waters, the young people there were taken
captive by her ; she was '* beautiful and buoyant as a sea-
gull." She was a brigantine, when altered in the Colonies,
of 120 tons register. She was built under the superintend-
ence of Captain Fraser, who brought her out and sailed
her for eight years. With alterations she cost about £4000.
Even when this money had been raised and the vessel was
at work, Dr. Paton's anxieties were not over. When the
" Dayspring " returned to Sydney from the New Hebrides in
1864 it was found that she was £1400 in debt, and that
there was not a penny to meet it. The crew were threaten-
ing to sue for wages. No arrangements had been made
to meet the running expenses, and the Doctor had to
THE FIRST "DAYSPEING" WRECKED. 297
come to the rescue. How he did so his autobiography
tells in its own inimitable way, and need not be re-
peated here. He lent the captain £60, or one-half of his
salary, to meet urgent demands, and set about raising
the money needed. At length satisfactory arrangements
were made, and the future of the vessel was assured.
Whatever differences of opinion exist now, all admit
that in those days a vessel like the " Dayspring " was
indispensable to the successful prosecution of Mission work
on the Group. As one of the Mission reports puts it : —
"What ships from other countries are; what steamers and
coasters are ; what railways, canals, and roads are ; what cabs and
Cobb's coaches are ; what drays and horses are ; what Post-offices,
postmen, and telegraphs are to you in Australia, New Zealand, and
Great Britain and Nova Scotia— all these the " Dayspring " is to us,
the missionaries and teachers in the New Hebrides."
On January 6th 1873 the first "Dayspring," after a
short but very useful career, was wrecked at the entrance
to Anelgauhat Harbour, Aneityum. Owing to the heavy
character of the work of the preceding year, she was
delayed until she was in January caught in one of
the severest hurricanes that have visited the Group,
and became a total wreck. The headquarters of the
Mission vessel had just been shifted from Melbourne to
Sydney, and the gentlemen there who had agreed to act
as a " Dayspring Board " were equal to the emergency.
Soon after the wreck they chartered, to do the work
of the Mission, the " Paragon," a three-masted schooner
of 159 tons register, built and just launched at Bal-
main, Sydney. She was in the market, and after trial
bemg considered suitable by the missionaries, was pur-
chased by the Board at the end of the year for £3000,
altered internally to suit the work of the mission, and
named the Dayspring.
298 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The second * ' Dayspring " was much larger than the first,
but within about ten years she was found to be too small,
and although she sailed fairly well either with fair wind or
beating up against a head wind, she proved too slow to
overtake the work that was required of her. Time and
again when she left the Colonies goods had to be left
behind, to the no small disappointment of those expecting
them. In 1883 a movement was begun to get a larger
and faster vessel. The Mission Synod were making
enquiries as to the practicability of a steamer, and that
same year Dr. Paton was sent to Britain by the Victorian
Church to raise the needed funds. As on his previous
visits to the Australian Colonies to raise the money for the
first "Dayspring," and on his visit to New Zealand to raise
the money for the second, so now in Britain his efforts were
crowned with success, and soon £6000, the sum aimed
at, was in hand. He was also put in possession of funds
to the extent of £4000 to equip and send out additional
missionaries.
At this juncture, when the difficulty in meeting the
annual expenditure of the steamer "Dayspring" was felt,
the wants of the Islands began to be met in another way.
Up to 1889 the New Hebrides Group was practically cut
off from the civilised world. In the end of 1889, however,
an arrangement was made with the Australian United
Steam Navigation Company whereby their Fiji steamers
were to call at the Group. A small steamer was also put
on to do the inter-Island work. After various arrangements
were made by a trading company with the A. U.S.N. Co.,
at length a single steamer owned by Messrs. Burns, Philp,
& Co. of Sydney has been put on to do the whole work,
making round trips from and to Sydney every two months.
So well has this arrangement wrought that already a much
ANOTHER MISSION STEAMER BUILT. 299
larger boat than that originally employed has had to be
put on, and it seems as if there could be no doubt now about
the permanence of the service. The danger was, and is,
that the presence of a Mission vessel might prove injurious
to the best interests of the Mission by necessitating the
withdrawal of the English steamers from the Group, and
affording an opportunity for some foreign Company aided
by a subsidy from its own nation to step in and injure, if
not destroy, the missionary work.
Although the condition of affairs was thus materially
altered, an effort was made to continue the policy of owning
a Mission vessel. In 1894 Dr. Paton was able to announce
that he had received promises of £1000 per annum towards
the cost of running a Mission steamer, and also an additional
£1000 to be used in adding to the size and comfort of the vessel.
With the approval of a number of the Churches support-
ing the Mission, the Victorian Church ordered the new
steamer to be built. John Stephens, Esq., of Glasgow,
gratuitously drew her plans and supervised the building.
She arrived in Melbourne on 31st December 1895. After
a deck-house and chart-room were added, and some neces-
sary changes made, her cost was about £7000. She was
157 feet long and 33 feet broad, and considered a model of
beauty. On her fourth trip, however, she ran on a coral
reef to the north of New Caledonia on October 16th 1896,
and became a total wreck. She was heavily laden with
Mission supplies, those of the Victorian Mission being un-
insured, but no hves were lost. The Company's service
was then again drawn upon. Whether another Mission
vessel will be procured is still under discussion. On hear-
ing of her loss the friends in Britain, who gave her to the
Mission, subscribed £-i000 to be added to £2000 of
insurance, and £2000 still in the Building Fund, for the
300 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
building of another steamer. The/ also offered to con-
tinue the £1000 per annum towards helping to meet the
running expenses. After this liberality it seems a pity
that the maintenance difficulty should stand in the way.
It appears, however, that a Mission steamship must
either be much smaller and slower than the vessel
at present at our service, or run at such an expense
that any benefit to be gained from it must be pur-
chased at an enormous cost. In 1897 our own Church
for this reason gave its voice against the building and
running of another " Dayspring." As, however, it has
only a small hand in maintaining the service, this did
not settle the matter. Since then both the New Heb-
rides Mission Synod and the Victorian Presbyterian
Assembly have declared in favour of giving the ** Day-
spring " another trial, and it appears as if an attempt
once more would be made to acquire a Mission vessel.
Certainly if the difficulty of maintenance can be overcome,
a steamer supported by the various Presbyterian Churches
and run solely in the interests of the New Hebrides
Mission, would bring many advantages. Not the least of
these would be the strong appeal to the sympathies of all
the Sabbath Schools of our Church, which assist in main-
taining the present maritime service.
(2) Maori Mission.
It was in 1862, when so many schemes were inaugu-
rated, that the Northern Church began to take an active
interest in Maori Mission work. The Committee then
appointed reported in the following year that the Rev.
Mr. Duncan, of the Manawatu, had been devoting himself
for many years to the Native race in his immediate vicinity,
and that, owing to the excitement caused by the insurrec-
tionary spirit prevalent among most of the Native tribes,
THE MA.OEI MISSION.
301
REV. J. DUNCAN,
tliey " did not feel justified in making any attempt to
increase the Church's agenc_5yn this department of religious
work." The Committee was instructed to put forth
missionary efforts among the
Natives as soon as the circum-
stances of the country would
allow. In 1864 they proposed
that Mr. Duncan should be
engaged by the Assembly to
give regular Sabbath Day
services to the Natives at
Manawatu and Lower Rangi-
tikei alternately, and report
through the Committee to the
Assembly, and that as a small
acknowledgment of his services
he should receive a yearly allow-
ance of £30. This recom-
mendation was adopted by the Assembly. For some years
after this reports from the Maori Mission field were most
discouraging.
In 1874, the Committee announced that they had
once more commenced operations on this field, and had
taken steps practically to recognise the labours of the Rev.
Abraham Honore, who, having come up from Stewart
Island, had for some time past been devoting attention to
the Maoris in the central districts of the North Island,
especially those of Parawanui, Turakina, and Wangaehu.
The report was adopted, and a collection ordered to be
taken up for his support. Mr. Milson was employed by
the Church as a second missionary to the Natives in
1881. Both of them laboured faithfully for many years.
Mr. Honore died suddenly in 1894, and Mr. Milson, on
account of failing health resigned in 1896.
302 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
REV. H. J. FLETCHER.
In 1889, or seven years before Mr. Milson retired,
Mr. H. J. Fletcher, who was a member of Rev. James
Doull's congregation at Bulls, and
had offered his services for work
among the Maoris, was engaged
as junior missionary. He has
laboured in various districts, and
has at present under his charge
the Natives around Taupo, having
been duly licensed and ordained
by the Wanganui Presbytery in
1898. In this district there are
sixteen pas visited by Mr. Fletcher,
some of them being sixty miles
distant from headquarters. It is
a difficult field to work. There
are many drawbacks. Considering the Maori War, whole-
sale confiscation of Native land, the hostile influence
of the Head Chief, Te Heuheu, and the demoralising
influence of the Armed Constabulary quartered amongst
them, and of settlers of bad character generally, one
would not be surprised if they declined to receive the
Gospel from Europeans. Nevertheless, there is a pretty
general desire to have a Bible, and to wait upon religious
services held by our missionary. The Maori Mission
Committee have also made a small grant to Mr, Ward,
who, although a Home missionary working in connection
with the Church Extension Committee in the Waikato,
can speak the Maori language, and is doing a good work
among the Natives of that historic district. Some of our
ministers who are settled in stated charges also do much
for the Aborigines. Amongst these are the Rev. Blake,
now of Halcombe, who was once a Maori missionary in
Otago, and who loses no opportunity of circulating tracts
THE CHINESE MISSION.
303
REV. H. BLAKE.
and holding services in their interest ; the Rev. G. B.
Inghs, of Ashburton, and his wife, who with others employ
Mr. Morgan, a devoted col-
porteur, to go from im to ini of
the South Island ; and the Rev.
J. Dickson, who has a worthy
member of his Session, Mr.
D. Kennedy, conducting a
Bible class, and himself holds
an occasional service at the
Temuka jm.
Notwithstanding all this, a
much larger door of usefulness
exists than our Church turns to
account. It is of the utmost
importance that it should be
entered. Work in the Foreign
field will never flourish as it
ought until religion reaches a high tone at home ; and it is
difficult to see how this latter goal can be reached with
16,000 Natives living in heathen ignorance in our midst,
and the rest of 39,854 now in New Zealand, feeling their
way into the hght.
(3) The CmNESE Mission.
Rev. Mr. Douglas, of Hokitika, may be looked upon
as the father of the Chinese Mission. The existence of
over 1000 Chinamen scattered up and down the Coast
uncared for by the Churches long lay like a load upon
his heart. Through the Westland Presbytery he
approached the Assembly on the subject. The supreme
court, sympathetic towards the movement, ordered a
collection to be made for a Chinese Mission, appointed
the Presbytery of Westland (with Mr. Douglas as convener)
304
HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
a Chinese Mission Committee, and instructed it to secure
a Chinese catechist as missionary. The Committee failed
to get a suitable catechist, but distributed Chinese tracts
in great numbers, and by their yearly reports kept the
Mission before the Church. Meantime the Christian
Endeavour movement came into existence, one of whose
chief features is zeal for Missions. It quite took the
wind out of the Church's sails. At the suggestion of
the Rev. R. Erwin, of Christchurch, the Canterbury C.E.
Union in 1896 got a missionary, Mr. Lem, and full of
enthusiasm undertook his support. Mr. Douglas on his
part enlisted the sympathies of the Christian Endeavour
Societies on the West Coast, and was able to promise
the Canterbury Union £20 per year towards Mr. Lem's
support. The greater part of the money is contributed
by Presbyterian Endeavourers. Though this Mission is
directly under the auspices of
the Canterbury and Westland
C.E. Unions, the General
Assembly of this Church makes
an annual contribution to it,
and the Church's Mission Com-
mittee is still in existence, and
every year hands in to the
Assembly its report.
Mr. Lem is a vigorous
and attractive speaker in his
own language and a man of
fine Christian spirit. His
services are always looked
forward to with much interest.
spread over a very wide area.
MR. LEM.
Unfortunately they are
Greymouth is viewed as
the headquarters of the Mission. Chinamen are most
ANOTHER CHINESE MISSIONARY REQUIRED. 305
numerous there and appreciate the Mission school, in
which Mr. Lem has many valuable helpers, mostly
Endeavourers.
In view of the wide area over which the Chinamen of
the West Coast mining districts are scattered, the tenacity
with which they cling to ancient and national traditions,
and their need for patient instruction, another missionary
among them is urgently required. There is no reason
why the Church should not still carry out its original
intention and have a Chinese missionary of its own.
" Oh ! where are the reapers that garner in
The sheaves of good from the field of sin ?
With sickles of truth must the work be done,
And no one may rest till the ' harvest home.' "
306 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBrTERIAN CHURCH.
CHAPTER XIX.
CHURCH PROPERTY.
Want of Uniformity in Titles— Discipline Weakened— A Model Trust
Deed Inoperative — Mr W. S. Reid's Services — Act of 1875 —
Church Property Act of 1885— A Central Board of Trustees—
The Trust Funds.
As a Church is a united and corporate body it is of the
utmost importance that its properties should be held by a
common tenure, and come under the control of the
supreme court. This is necessary not only to secure the
properties to the Church as an ecclesiastical body, but also
to effectually carry out the functions of government
and discipline. Otherwise difficulties will inevitably arise.
Threats will be made, by the individual disciplined or
by the congregation concerned, of separation from the
communion, and of carrying away the property which
belongs to the Church corporate. Nothing weakens the
powers of discipline more than this.
Trouble has arisen in another way. Church property
is vested in local trustees. . Dissension arises in the
congregation. The trustees become partizans, and by
the means of the power lodged in their hands, sometimes
create serious difficulties. All this is avoided by having
all ecclesiastical property vested in one corporate central
board, under the control of the General Assembly. To
make confusion worse confounded there was in the earlier
years no uniformity of title in regard to the Church Avith
which the property was associated. Some titles declared
it to be connected with the established Church of Scotland,
some with the Free Church of Scotland, and some disclosed
WANT OF UNIFORMITY IN TITLES.
307
no ecclesiastical connection at all, and set forth no trust,
absolute power l)eing given to individuals to deal with the
property as they thought fit. This was felt to be a very
unsatisfactory state of affairs, and from time to time the
subject was discussed in the supreme court. Various
proposals were made to remedy the evil. Amongst others
a model trust deed was suggested. This was a proposal of
the Assembly of 1862, which met at Auckland, and at
which the Union of the Northern and Southern Churches
took place. But like the Union itself it remained in-
operative. The diverse and insecure titles of the Church
properties continued to press on the mind of the Church.
The Assembly of 1874 instructed the Church Property
Committee to take such action as might be necessary to
have an Act of Legislature passed defining the position and
recognising the distinctive title of the Presbyterian Church
of New Zealand, and giving
power to Trustees holding
Church property under various
titles to transfer said property
to the Church under that
designation. Mr. W. S. Reid,
the Solicitor-General, on being
asked, kindly agreed to act as
legal adviser to the Church, in
so far as his doing so did not
interfere with his public and
official duties. To this gentle-
man the Church is under very
great obligation for valuable
services most kindly and gratui-
tously rendered during a long
course of years. His high stand-
ing in his profession, and his large experience as the legal
MR. W. S. REID.
308 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
adviser of tlie Government give great weight to hia
opinions. To him the Convener of the Church Property
Committee, the Rev. James Paterson, applied for advice
and assistance in carrying out the instructions of the
Assembly. These were freely given, Mr. Reid prepared a
Bill, which passed through both Houses of the Legislature,
and became the law of the land. This is known as Act
No. 9, of 1875, the title of it being : " An Act to Define the
Position of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, and
to Provide for Dealing with Certain Property held in Trust
for Purposes connected with such Church."
This Act recited that there was a Church in certain
Provinces of the Colony known as the Presbyterian Church
of New Zealand — that it never had any actual connec-
tion with any Presbyterian Church in Scotland, but had
independent jurisdiction, and was governed by the doc-
trines set forth in the Westminster Confession of Faith
and the Presbyterian Form of Church Government. That
in many cases real and personal property was held under
titles indicating a connection with Churches in Scotland,
which connection had no actual existence, and that it was
expedient the legal position of the Presbyterian Church
in New Zealand should be defined. Then the Act pro-
ceeded to say :
1. The Presbyterian Church, as before stated, was to
be known as the Presbyterian Church of New
Zealand.
2. Its officiating ministers were recognised for the
purposes of the Marriage Act.
3. Trustees of real or personal property held in con-
nection with churches under the circumstances
set out in the preamble were empowered to con-
vey the same to Trustees appointed by congrega-
THE CHUECH PROPEETY ACT. 309
tions to which such property belonged, to bo held
upon trust in connection with the Presbyterian
Church of New Zealand, and upon like trusts as
those for which the property was originally held
or might lawfully be declared.
Such were the provisions of this Act. It served a
good purpose so far as it went, but it did not go far
enough.
Another Act was required which would lay hold of all
the properties and trust funds of the Church and vest
them in the Churcli herself, or in a corporate body of
Trustees, who should be appointed by the Church and
responsible to the Church, and who should hold the
various trusts for the Church. Mr. Reid was again
applied to under instructions from the General Assembly,
and he prepared a Bill which met with the approval
of the Assembly and received the sanction of the Legis-
lature. This is the existing Church Property Act,
1885. It is entitled an " Act to Define the Position
of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, and to
Vest Certain Property held for the Purposes of or
in Connection with such Church, in Trustees, and to
Provide for the Management of such Properties." This
Act, of course, superseded the former of 1875, and was
more complete. It constituted a corporate body of
Trustees, in whom all the property and trust funds of
the Church are vested, and who hold the same for
the Church. Those Trustees are appointed by and
removable at the will of the Assembly, due notice being
given. The Chairman of this Board of Trustees is Mr.
James M'Kerrow, a gentleman of great ability and of
large experience in public affairs. Much of the busi-
ness of the Board falls to the Chairman, and it always
310 HISTORY OF N.Z. TEESBYTEEIAN CHURCH.
receives from him prompt attention. By the establish-
ment of this Board of Trustees, many properties,
which otherwise would have been lost to the Church, have
been secured, and title deeds which were in the hands of
private persons, or which seemed to be a-missing, have
been recovered and deposited in the Church's safe. The
properties of the Church are very extensive and very
valuable. It is to be regretted that sufficient data have
not yet been collected on which to found even an approxi-
mate estimate of their worth. The Trust funds, which
consist mainly of the Widows and Orphans Fund, the
Aged and Infirm Ministers Fund, the Foreign Mission
Fund, and the Scholarship Fund, have considerably
increased within the last few years. The Widows and
Orphans Fund has now a capital of £5935 16s 6d, and the
Aged and Infirm Ministers Fund of £4200 6s 5d. The
other Trust funds amount to between £6000 and £7000.
There have been some generous donors both of church
and manse sites, and other additions to the Trust funds.
It is to be hoped the number of such friends of the
Church will increase, and that the funds will largely
benefit thereby. This matter is commended to the leal-
hearted and wealthy members of the Presbyterian Church
of New Zealand.
TABULATED FACTS AND FIGURES. 311
CHAPTER XX.
TABULATED FACTS AND FIGURES.
In addition to numerous "Preaching Stations" there are
in connection with the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand
103 sanctioned charges, 101 of which, at one time or
another in tlieir ecclesiastical history, have enjoyed the
advantages of a settled ministry. There have been 306
ministerial settlements, which means that 217 ministers
at different times have been placed in charge of con-
gregations according to the formalities of the Presbyterian
Church at Home and in this Colony ; or, taking up work
in the period of her infancy, were afterwards recognised as
ministers of this Church. 18 charges, not a few of
which, like Papakura and Mahurangi, originated in early
days, have contented themselves with one minister each,
25 have had 2, 16 have had 3, 23 have had 4, 8 have
required 5, 9 have demanded 6, and 2 seem to have reached
perfection by enjoying in a comparatively short space of
time, in addition to numerous temporary supplies, the
perfect number of 7 ministers each, i.e., Prebbleton
and Lincoln, and Whangarei. Looking at it from the
ministers' standpoint, we find that of the 217 ministers
who have been in charge 132 have had one congregation
each, 58 have had 2, 18 have laboured in 3, and 8 have
tried their hand on 4. This takes no account of the
charges ministers had before coming to us or after leaving.
The inclusion of such would considerably swell the list.
Those advocates of short pastorates who think we
should go in for a nearer approach to the " itinerant
312 HISTORY OF N.Z. PKESBYTERIAN CHUECH.
system" of the Wesleyan Church, will be surprised to learn
that the average length of the pastorate in the Presbyterian
Church of New Zealand, exclusive of pastorates now
running, is only 5 years; and that making no exceptions
but taking account of all pastorates ended and to end,
lying in troublous and in peaceful times, we find the
average to be 6 years and 5 months. The highest average
is possessed by the Wanganui Presbytery, i.e., 7 years and
4 months, and the lowest is found, as we might expect from
a fluctuating mining district, in the Westland Presbytery,
i.e., 3 years and 3 months. The longest ministry is that
of the Eev. James Duncan, who came to New Zealand as
a Maori missionary in 1843, who, after the lapse of 56
years' faithful work among the Natives and among the
members of this Church, and after reaching 86 years of
age, is still preaching occasionally at Foxton, and who for
nearly 40 years has officially received the cordial recogni-
tion of this Church. Alongside of that deserve to be noted
the pastorates of Kevs. T. Norrie and K. McKinney, which
exceed 43 years and 41 years respectively. The shortest is
that of the Rev. D. McKee of North Belt, Christchurch, who
suddenly passed away after a brief ministry of 6 months.
The first minister of any denomination who came out
from Home expressly to minister to the settlers of New
Zealand was a Presbyterian minister, i.e., Rev. John
Macfarlane, of Wellington, who arrived in 1840, and the
first church of any denomination erected for the use of the
colonists at Wellington was a Presbyterian church, built
in 1843, in which the members of all communions
worshipped for a time. This church has also the honour of
having received the first minister of any denomination who
came out to minister to the settlers of the South Island,
i.e., the Rev. T. D. Nicholson, of Nelson who arrived at
TABULATED FACTS AND FIGURES. 313
Port Chalmers on fcbe morning of Wednesday, March 22nd,
1848, before Rev. Dr. Burns and the Free Church settlers
of Otago had reached their destination.
The catholicity of this Church is shown in its having
received ministers from nearly all points of the ecclesiastical
compass. The Free Church of Scotland, the great mission-
ary Church of modern times, naturally comes first. From
that Church, since the beginning of our history in 1840, we
have received 104 ministers, besides students, catechists,
lay evangelists, and many teachers for work both in the day
and in the Sabbath school, and sometimes in the pulpit.
The Green Isle has sent us here to the ends of the earth
some 32 ministers during the same period. Some years
were specially prolific in bringing additions to the ministry
of this church. In 1871-72 we received 17 ministers, 12
of them being the result of Rev. D. Bruce's visit to the
Old Country. In 1878-79 we received 7 ministers and 10
students, and in the seventies altogether we welcomed no
fewer than 38 ministers and 20 students. Some of these
never got settled. The origin of our present ministry
will show that we have not been at all bigoted. Of
the ministers now in charge 43 have come from
the Free Church of Scotland, 11 from the Irish
Presbyterian Church, 8 from the Church of Scotland, 5
from the United Presbyteriau Church of Scotland, 4 from
the English Presbyterian Church, 5 from the Congre-
gational Church, and 3 from the Methodist Churches,
all bringing their peculiar gifts and graces, and all fused
into a great gospel army marching along Presbyterian
lines to the conquest of this land for Christ.
The remainder of the 90 ministers at present in
charge, outside of vacant congregations, is chiefly made
up of men trained in this Colony. This latter is a factor
314 HISTOEY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
which it is difficult to estimate, owing to the various
degrees to which students have availed themselves of
facilities for education in New Zealand. It is an increasing
quantity. In the future the Church must more and more
depend for ministerial recruits on students trained in the
Colony, while continuing as heretofore to welcome earnest
and faithful ministers from all parts of the Presbyterian
horizon. More than 33 ministers who have laboured in
connection with this Church have, in whole or in part,
been educated in New Zealand.
As if to show how short-sighted those few spirits are
who oppose the Union of the Northern and Southern
Churches of New Zealand, a good deal of wooing between
these communions has been going on across the Waitaki
bridge. Not only have messages of love in the form of
church certificates, valid on both sides, and church resolu-
tions, more or less gushing in sentiment, been passing
between them, but frequent offers of marriage have been
made by congregations on the one side and accepted by
ministers on the other. 21 pastors of Otago and
Southland, being only flesh and blood like their fellows,
have crossed the Waitaki in response to calls from the Pres-
byterian Church of New Zealand (Revs. J. Kirkland, W.
Gillies, J. Gow, J. McAra, A. Blake, D. Gordon, R. C.
Morrison, J. G. Patterson, B. Hutson, W. Finlayson, J. H.
Mackenzie, A. B. Todd, R. Wood, J. White, G. B. Inghs,
H. Kelly, W. Scorgie, J. Skinner, W. J. Comrie, J. Milne,
and J. A. Asher) ; and not to be outdone in the matter of
kindness 21 ministers have thrown up their Northern
charges and gone South to vow tiiat they will love and
cherish and promote the best interests of congregations
in the Church of Otago and Southland (Revs. A. B. Arnot,
J. Kirkland, G. Morice, R. Waddell, J. U. Spence, W. P.
TABULATED FACTS AND FIGUEES. 315
Brown, P. S. Hay, J. M. Fraser, G. Lindsay, R. J. Porter,
W. Nicliol, P. Ramsay, J. W. Comrie, B. Hutson, J.
Mackellar, J. Smellie, H. Adamson, W. White, J. Clarke,
R. McCully, and W. Scorgie).
The average stipend in the Wellington Presbytery is
£263 ; in Tiroaru Presbytery, £260 ; in the Christchurch
Presbytery, £225 ; in the Hawke's Bay Presbytery, £216 ;
in the Westland Presbytery, £215 ; in Auckland Presby-
tery, £208 ; in the Wanganui Presbytery, £205 ; in the
Nelson Presbytery, £196 ; and over the entire Church, £224.
Last year St. John's Wellington, raised the largest
sum for Foreign Missions (£52 12s. 3d,), the largest sum
for Church Extension (£86 17s. 6d.), and had the largest
income (£2224 9s. 6d.). Wanganui contributed most
handsomely to Maori Mission (£9 12s. 9d.). The total
revenue of the Church is about £41,596. The number of
communicants is 11,852 ; of churches, 168 ; of church
attendants, 27,285 ; of Sabbath Schools, 214 ; and of
scholars, 15,044.
APPENDIX.
=^
MULTUM IN PARVO.
AUCKLAND PRESBYTERY.
MULTUM IN PARVO.
(Explanation of Contractions ;—E., Elders; Mgrs., Managers ; M., Memhers.)
I— AQCKLAND PRESBYTERY
(Formed October ISth, 1856).
(1) ST. ANDREW'S, AUCKLAND.
This is the oldest Presbyterian congregation of the Auckland
Province— Rev. W. Comrie, one of the old Moderates, in 1843 began
services in the Supreme Courthouse, but did not succeed in organising
a congregation— A Committee was appointed to build a church
on May 4th, 1847— A Sunday School was established the same
year by the Hon. Alex. Shepherd (Colonial Treasurer), Superin-
tendent, and Mr. Whytlaw. (a) Rev. A. G. Panton, sent out by
the Colonial Committee of the F.C., Scotland, arrived on January
15th, 1849 ; stipend £150 for the first two years, £300 afterwards
—A church, after many vexatious delays and some financial troubles,
was opened on April 7th, 1850; cost, £3500— Mr. Panton began
well, but owing to a disagreement between him and his office-bearers
returned to Scotland on October 25lh, 1850— Supply was given
by Revs. J. laglis, T. Hamer, and A. Macdonald. {b) Rev. D.
Bruce, ordained in Scotland by the F.C. Presbytery of Aberdeen,
arrived on June 9th, 1852, and at once vigorously entered upon a
long and successful pastorate— A debt of £1500 was wiped off in
three months— Rev. Jas. Hill, late of F.C, Scone, Scotland, arrived
as colleague in 18G3, but accepted a call to St. James's in July
18G4 — Mr Bruce was Moderator of Assembly in 1866— He visited
Scotland April 6th, 1870— In the sixties St. Andrew's was by far
the most liberal and influential congregation of the Church. It
320 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
had many wealthy members who exerted themselves to supply
ordinances to their spiritually destitute fellow-colonists round about.
So far from complaining of Mr. Bruce's frequent absences from his
pulpit, or throwing obstacles in the way of his itinerant work, they
were rather a spur to his activity in the cause of Church extension.
Many a church was planted by them among the settlers who were
pushing their way into the remoter districts north and south of
Auckland— Mr. Bruce (now Dr. Bruce, Sydney), to whose noble
Church extension work reference is made elsewhere, was appointed
Church Agent January 24th, 1877, after a pastorate of 25 years.
(c) Rev. a. Carrick, late of Canada, was inducted December 27th,
1877, and, after an earnest ministry of 18 years, died on June 2nd,
1895, of typhoid fever— M., 172. {d) Rev. Jas. Milne, M.A., of
Oamaru, was inducted on March 15th, 1898 — A number left to form
Knox Church at Parnell. — The church, which is seated for 542 and
has an average attendance of 400, was renovated in 1898, £560
having been raised for that purpose — M., 160 ; 61 left and 54 joined
during 1898 ; revenue, £1200 — Fuller information about this old and
important congregation will be found elsewhere.
(2) OTAHDHU.
A church was built on a site given by W. J. Taylor,
Esq., at West Tamaki in 1850 when it was connected with
St. Andrew's, Auckland — Services were held at West Tamaki,
Otahuhu, and Howick by Revs. J. Inglis and D. Bruce for some time.
(a) Rev. John Macky, M.A., late of Fahan, County Derry, Ireland,
arrived at Auckland on Sunday, August 20th, 1854, and on the
Sabbath after preached at St. Andrew's, Auckland, in the morning,
and in the afternoon began at Otahuhu a long and earnest ministry
by officiating in Mr. Baird's store on the Tamaki River. He came
with a grant of £100 per year, from the Irish Presbyterian Churob,
which continued for some time— A service was held every Sabbath
morning at Otahuhu and fortnightly at Tamaki and Howick — Week day
services were occasionally held at Slippery Creek, Wairoa, etc. — On a
site given by Mr. T. Baird at Otara, near Otahuhu, a building for
school and church was erected in 1855 and enlarged in 1858 — The
present church was opened here on May 3rd, 1803 ; in 18G3 Otahuhu
AUCKLAND PRESBYTERY. 321
was the headquarters for the English troops, and Mr. Maeky acted
as Chaplain, and held services at the encampment now known as
" Camp Farm " — Mr. S. C. Baird gave 3 acres as a site for a manse
and for a glebe, and an acre of ground for a cemetery— In 1867 a
handsome new church was erected at West Tamaki on a site given
by Mr. George Howard, cost £540, of which Mr. Taylor gave one-half
— A few years later a new church was built at Howick also — For 25
years Mr. Macky continued to hold services at Tamaki, Howick,
Mangere, &a. — On December 5th, 1889, owing to failing sight
and other infirmities he resigned, the Presbytery passing the
following resolution: — "That the Presbytery .... cordially
accede to his request, release him from the active duties of
the pastorate, and declare him to be from the 1st of January,
1890, ' minister emeritus ' of the charge of Otahuhu, Tamaki,
and Howick, with a seat in the Church courts While
grateful to the Great Head of the Church for the long and honoured
ministry He has permitted his servant to enjoy, fervently prays that
he may be yet spared for many years to take part, as his strength
will permit in the work of that charge where he has so long com-
manded the confidence and esteem of a loving and attached people,"
&c.
After the retirement of Mr. Bruce he was the acknowledged
father of the Presbytery, whose advice was eagerly sought and much
respected. He was Moderator of the first General Assembly in 1862.
He died on January 23rd, 1891. {b) Rev. D. J. Steele, M.A., late
of Ireland, son-in-law of Mr. Macky, was inducted on November 27th,
1884. He was Moderator of the Assembly for 1899— E., 5; Mgra.,
21; M., 100; stipend, £250; total revenue, £333 IBs.
(3) WAIPU.
The people of this district are nearly all Nova Scotians,
among whom the memory of Rev. Norman McLeod is greatly
revered. With the name of this remarkable man, the early history
of this charge is closely bound up. He was born at Assynt,
Sutherlandshire, on August 30th, 1780, was educated at Edinburgh,
differed with the " Moderates," and in 1817 emigrated to North
America, accompanied by a large number of friends and neighbours.
A minister of Gaelic people scattered throughout the States, he was
322 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
lioensed and ordained by the Presbytery ot Qlenesee, Western New
York, in 1819. His name appears on the first roll of members. He
settled down at St. Auris, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, where he
farmed a piece of land for a living, built a church, and gathered a
congregation of 2000, mostly of the Gaelic race. After 33 years
faithful labour, he and a large number of his congregation set sail
in their own ship for South Australia, and, not liking it, came on to
New Zealand, and settled at Waipu in 1854. Though now 74 years
of age he set to work with his usual energy, secured the settlement
for the Nova Scotians, acted as a J.P., built a house to live in,
erected a church in 1855 which was enlarged in 1859, organised a
charge, and was more than a father to the settlers. He laboured
without fee or reward. Old Colonists of Waipu, who never tire
sounding his praises, remember him as of tall and commanding
presence and a born orator in his native Gaelic, and do not expect to
look upon his like again. He had a large share of trials, but died
peacefully on March 14th, 1866, aged 86. Though he did not him-
self join the Presbytery, one of his last injunctions was that
his people should stick together under the leadership of Mr.
iEneas Morrison until the Presbytery appointed a successor.
This was done. The present church was built in 1871. Mr.
Morrison died in August 1883. The Presbytery found it difficult to
supply Mr. McLeod's place with an acceptable Gaelic-speaking
minister, (a) Rev. W. McRae, a good Gaelic scholar, brought out
by Rev. D. Bruce, was ordained and inducted on May 29th, 1872 —
A manse was built — He found it trying to follow Mr. McLeod — He
resigned on June 19th, 1883. {!>') Rev. Alex. McLean, B.D., who
had been ordained by the Congregational Council of America, and
received here by the Assembly of 1883, was inducted on September
26th, 1883 — The church was enlarged and transepts added in 1884 —
He resigned on August 4th, 1886. (c) Rev. G. Jones was inducted
on April 20th, 1887 — In 1890 a number left to form a new charge and
get a Gaelic-speaking minister.
(4) PAPAKURA.
The first services were held in Mr. D. McLennan'g house at
Papakura by Revs. D. Bruce and John Macky. (a) Rev. Thomas
AUCKLAND PEESBYTERY.
323
NoRRiE. arrived in Auckland on October 17th, 1855, and preached in
the Wesleyan Chapel, Papakura, on November 4th, 1855 ; he had
been at Home a fellow-student of Revs. D. Bruce and W. Will, and
before and after his last session at college had been a missionary in
his native town of Montrose ; he
was early inured to difficulty and
came out prepared to endure hard-
ness like a good soldier of the
Cross ; yet his sparsely-populated
parish somewhat puzzled him and
Mrs. Norrie, who acted for a time
as precentor — The first service held
at Drury was in the house of Mr.
W. J. Young, and at Wairoa in that
of Mr. D. McNicol— On November
26th, 1856, a service was begun
at Waiuku in Mr. Jenkins' store —
The first church erected at Drury
was opened June 20th, 1858, and
at Wairoa on December 26th, 1858
—On January 23rd, 1859, Papakura
Church was opened — In 1860 the
manse was built, being the first
house of the proposed village of
Argyle— On July 15th, 1860, the
first service was held at Pukekohe
East, where a temporary church
was erected in 1861— The present
church, where the battle was fought, was opened on April 6th,
1863— On January 4th, 1863, Sabbath services were commenced
in Papakura Valley Church and School, recently opened- Raglan
was visited in 1863, the year of the Maori War, Mr. Norrie
going by the Waikato Heads and, seated in a boat, swimming
his horse across two rivers, a feat often afterwards accomplished-
Raglan Church was opened on July 23rd, 1865— In 18G6 Waikato was
made a charge under Rev. Mr. Taylor, and Waiuku under the Rev. A.
B. Arnot, where a church was erected by Mr. Norrie the same year—
On September 23rd, 1866, Ramarama Church was opened— In 1867
the Maketu Government Building and the Garrison Library Hall were
REV. T. NORRIE.
324 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERUN CHURCH.
bought, each for a church and school — In 1808 a temporary
church was erected at Pukekohe West — In 1869, Mr. Arnot having
resigned, Waiuku was again attached — On June 14th, 1870, a
church was opened at Pollock settlement— In 1871 in Ardmore
monthly Sabbath services were begun, this entailing five services
once a month on the same day — Hunua and other stations to the
number of 12 were supplied this year — In 1872 Ness Valley monthly
service was begun in Mr. Mackenzie's house, and 18 stations
supplied — In 1873 Waiuku charge was resuscitated, and six stations
taken off Mr. Norrie's hands — In 1873 the church at Queen's
Redoubt, when being used as a schoolroom, was burnt — In 1874 a
church was built at Queen's Redoubt, and 10 stations supplied— In
1875 a Sabbath service was inaugurated at Mercer, and Mr. Norrie
had to preach six times monthly on the same day — In 1875 the
Hunua church was built, and a Sabbath and day school established
— In 1878 services began at Brookby and Turanga Creek, and 16
places in all were supplied — In 1876 with the assistance of Mr. D.
McLennan, Mungatawhiri Valley and Ararimu stations were opened
— In 1877 Queen's Redoubt service was interrupted, but Pokeno Hill
service was begun, and Ness Valley church opened— In 1880
Tuakau church was erected, and 18 congregations were supplied
with Sabbath services, entailing on Mr. Norrie four services every
Sabbath and once in the month five — In this year died Mr.
McBurney ; Mrs. Runciman whose name was second on the roll of
members ; Mrs. Veitch, of Wairoa ; and Mr. John Nesbitt, of Drury,
who was 21 years an elder of Papakura, and only surviving elder in
New Zealand of St. Andrew's first Session, Auckland ; and in 1881 Mr.
Jas. Comrie, father of Rev. W. J. Comrie, and an elder for 19 years,
all distinguished pioneers — In 1881 through the loss of the help of
Mr. D. Norrie and of Mr. W. Forbes, elder, 11 stations only were
supplied— This year Mr. Norrie gave instruction in 10 day schools —
In 1885 four new stations were visited quarterly, making 18 stations
supplied in all — In 1894 Drury new church was built — In 1896 Hunua
station was opened — In 1898 Turanga Creek station was begun, and
with some help 14 places supplied once every month — 19 churches, 1
manse, and 1 teacher's house, or 21 ecclesiastical buildings in all,
were erected by Mr. Norrie at a cost of £4500, and mostly free of
debt — Mr. Norrie was Moderator of Assembly in 1808 — E., 3; Mgrs.,
30; M., 226; stipend, £155 183 4d ; total revenue, £227 lis Id.
AUCKLAND PEESBYTERY. 325
(5) MAHURANGI.
Kev. D. Bruce conducted the first service held in this district in
1854 at a house occupied by Mr. R. Dodd — Mr. Bruce had a building
erected at Mahurangi to serve for both churcli and manse, got the
district formed into a regular charge, and then sent Home for a
minister, (a) Eev. E. McKinnet, late of Saltersland, County
Derry, Ireland, the first and only minister of this charge, arrived
in Auckland on October 8th, 1856, was present at the first meeting
of the Auckland Presbytery, and was inducted at Mahurangi on
December 13th, the day on which the new church was opened — In
1858 a church was built at Matakana Heads and opened by Rev. D.
Bruce — In 1860 a church was erected at Matakana — In 1862 a new
church was built at Mahurangi, the old one, now too small, being
added to the manse ; manse and church stand on a glebe of 14 acres
given by Captain Daldy, Auckland — In 1864 a church was erected at
Mahurangi Heads, on a site given by Mr. W. Grant, and opened on
March 13th by Eev. Jas. Hill— In 1876 St. Columba's Church,
Mahurangi, was opened by Eev. D. Bruce, cost £600 — In early days
Mr. McKinney made many missionary tours. One consisted in
going 60 or 70 miles up the eastern coast and returning by the
western coast — To reach one station Mr. McKinney has been
in the habit of pulling himself in his own boat on alternate
Sabbaths a distance of 11 miles — Mr. McKinney was Moderator of
Assembly in 1874— Services for many years have been held at
Mahurangi, Mahurangi Heads, Matakana, Matakana Heads, Pakira,
Mangawai, Omaha, and a bi-monthly service in the island of Kawau
in the drawing-room of the late Sir Geo. Grey — In 1894 St. Andrew's
Church, Matakana, costing £350, was opened by Eev. J. Hill — E., 3 ;
Mgrs., 9 ; M., 86 : stipend, £150 ; total revenue, £174 2s 6d.
(6) ONEHUNGA.
Rev. John Inglis, afterwards of Aneityum, gave services in 1852,
and Rev. D. Bruce continued them in 1853. These services were
held in a pensioner's cottage, transformed into a temporary church, by
Eevs. Bruce, Macky, etc. The congregation consisted of six families,
many Presbyterians having joined other denominations who were
earlier in the field, (a) Rev. G. Brown, M.A., arrived from Scotland
in January 1860, and took charge of Onehunga and Whau districts —
326 HISTOEY OF N.Z. PRESBYTEEIAN CHURCH.
Sabbath and day schools were carried on by Mr. Whyte — A neat
church, seating 250 and costing £400, was opened on November 1st,
1862, the bell being sent from Aberdeen— The first Session was
constituted in 1877, the members being Messrs. A. Dunwoodie, A.
Grant, aud A. Whyte— Mr Brown resigned on March 3rd, 1880. {b)
Rev. James Bruce was inducted on March 3rd, 1881, Mangere and
OuehuEga having united to call him. Under the ministry of Mr.
Bruce, though in feeble health, the charge prospered and became
self-sustaining — A manse was built for his comfort with much
enthusiasm — He was greatly assisted by Colonel Carnegie, Rev. Mr.
Todd, and Messrs. Hunter and Osborne — Mr. Bruce died on Sep-
tember 20th, 1886. (c) Rev. Thos. Adams, late of Newton Inde-
pendent Church, was inducted on April 17th, 1888— A handsome
church, seating 300 and costing £1000, was erected in 1890 by the
side of the old one — Mr. Adams resigned through ill-health on
December 1st, 1891— M., 80. (rf) Rev. R. Ferguson, late of Glasgow,
was ordained and inducted on April 19th, 1892, and translated to
Devonport July 1st, 1896— M., 106. (e) Rev. Robert Wylie, late
of Canonbury, London, was inducted on November 25th, 1897—
E., 3; Mgrs, 8; stipend, £200.
(7) WHANGAREI.
Efforts to establish a charge were made as far back as 1841, but
owing to Native war were unsuccessful till 1855, when Rev. D. Bruce
visited the district. At a public meeting held on June 27th, 1859,
Messrs. Reyburn, Rust, Taylor, Meldrum, and McDonald were
appointed to raise subscriptions for a church to be built on a site
given by Francis Hunt, Esq.— A church was finished at the end of
1861 — Churches were also soon built at Mangapai and at Kaurihohori
— Day schools were held in all the buildings — Whangarei was formed
into a regular charge in 1861. (a) Rev. J. Gorrie was inducted on
January 8th, 1862 — He built for himself a two-storey house on 17
acres of Waitangi property overlooking Whangarei River — Owing to
the illness of Mr. Gorrie, the church was closed for four mouths ; he
died on March 9th, 1869. (b) Rev. John Wallace, of Devonport,
was inducted on February 9th, 1870— A manse was purchased for
£230— The church was enlarged in 1875, and opened in March 1876
—Mr. Wallace, being ill, resigned on November 14th, 1877, in order
AUCKLAND PRESBYTERY. 327
to take a sea voyage— Mr. James Carruth, an old friend of the
congregation, supplied during the vacancy, (c) Rev. Alex. McIntosh
was inducted on February 18th, 1880, and resigned February 7th,
1883, the congregation suffering much, (d) Rev. J. M. Killen, M.A.,
of Tauranga, was inducted on October 17th, 1883— He resigned on
December 7th, 1886, in order to give his whole attention to the
profession of a barrister and solicitor, remaining in the district,
and giving an occasional service when required, (e) Rev. B. Hutson,
of Waikato West, was inducted on June 29th, 1887, and translated
to Ravensbourne, Otago, on April 29th, 1890— During the vacancy,
Mr Russell, a student from Scotland, and Mr. S. S. Osborne, just
licensed, supplied, (f) Rev. James Mackie, of United Presbyterian
Church, was inducted on May 18th, 1892— The old manse was sold
and removed, and a new manse- erected at a cost of £337, Mr.
James Carruth having bequeathed £200 for the purpose — Mr.
Mackie left for Southbridge on January 8th, 1895— M., 85— Services
were given for a time by Revs. D. Ross and McDougal. (g) Rev. G.
Y. RoBY was inducted on October 28th, 1896— Services are held at
Kaurihohori, Mangapai, and Whareora — In the midst of many
trying vicissitudes, the Presbyterians of Whangarei have remained
true to the Church of their fathers— E., 2 ; M., 90 ; stipend, £150;
total revenue, £202 lis 9d.
(8) ST. JAMES', AUCKLAND.
A Sunday School was organised by St. Andrew's congregation on
the western side of the town in 1857— A schoolroom was built in
Hobson street, costing £450, chiefly through the eilorts and liberality
of the late Mr, Thomas Macky, brother of the late Rev. John Macky.
Coming to Auckland more than forty years ago, and settling down as
a wholesale merchant, Thomas became elder of St. Andrew's, and
then Session Clerk and Treasurer of St. James'. He was also member
of the choir, and Bible Class teacher, and may be looked upon as the
father of the congregation, a man distinguished for his piety and his
hospitality, and beloved by all his co-workers and by members of all
creeds. In January 1860, Rev. George Brown, M.A., arrived, and
with Revs. D. Bruce, John Gorrie, and John Thorn supplied services
for some time, (a) Rev. Peter Mason, late of Turakina, was inducted
on August 5th, 1862— In October 1862 the Presbytery gave the
congregation permission to occupy a site near the schoolroom, but in
a more commanding position, in Wellington street, on laud bequeathed
328 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
by Mr. W. Gorrie— Active steps to erect a church were taken on
March 6th, 1864— The congregation informed Presbytery that it was
unable to maintain ordinances — Mr. Mason resigned on April 6th,
1864. {b) Rev. James Hill, late colleague of Rev. D. Bruce in St.
Andrew's, was inducted on July 19th, 1864— The congregation
ST. JAMES', AUCKLAND.
inoreasing under his ministry, a church to seat 550, and costing
£3337, was opened in April 1865 by Rev. John Gorrie, son of the
gentleman who gave the site — The schoolroom in Hobson street
AUCKLAND PEESBYTERY. 329
was now sold, and a schoolhouse built beside the church, which
was afterwards transformed into a manse — Mr. Hill was translated
to the Thames on September 9th, 1868. (c) Rev. R. F. Macxicol,
recently of New Plymouth, was inducted on February 3rd, 1869 ;
he has all along enjoyed the co-operation of a most zealous and
loyal band of workers, and through the blessing of God on their
united labours the congregation has enjoyed uninterrupted prosperity
for thirty years. — In 1879 a very commodious hall built of brick was
erected on a site adjoining the church at a cost of £2270. — Mr.
Macnicol was Moderator of Assembly in 1880 — E., 12 ; Mgrs., 12 ;
M., 275 ; stipend, £400; average total revenue, fully £800.
(9) AYONDALE.
(a) Rev. Andkew Anderson, a Cameronian who came out with
the Pollock settlers, was inducted in 1865, and returned to Scotland
in 1866. (b) Rev. David Hamilton, a brother of Rev. Dr. Thomas
Hamilton, now President of Queen's College, Belfast, was inducted
in January 1872 ; after a pastorate of 16 months, during which he
won the affection of his people in a marked degree, he lost his way
and died from exposure in the Manukau forest in July 1873; a
monument was erected to his memory by an attached people, (c)
Rev. R. Sommerville was inducted in 1876— Attendance at services
increased — A manse was built on a glebe of six acres of land— Mr.
Sommerville was Moderator of Assembly in 1883 ; he was translated
to St. Peter's, Auckland, in 1885. (d) Rev. A. Mackenzie, M.A.,
B.D., was inducted in 1885, resigned in 1887, and left for Australia.
(e) Rev. C. Woeboys was inducted on May 25th, 1888, and trans-
lated to Opotiki in April 1893— Members, 87. (/) Rev. Ales.
McLean was inducted in 1896— There are churches at Avondale and
Hobsonville— E.,9; Mgrs., 15; M., 91; stipend, £161; total revenue,
£390 Os 6d.
(10) WAIURU.
(rt) Rev. a. B. Aenot was ordained in 1866 — A neat and
commodious church was erected at Waiuku in 1866, where well-
attended Sabbath and day schools were held — Services were conducted
by him at Waiuku, Port Waikato, Waipipi, Awhitu, &c.— Mr. Arnot
330 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
resigned in the beginning of 1869 and Waiuku was again added to the
Papakura charge — Pollock church was opened in 1870 by Rev. T.
Norrie. (fc) Rev. James GAiiLowAYwassettledinl873— Mr. T.R.Forbes,
a student evangelist, was appointed to assist Mr. Galloway in 1877 ; he
left for Pokeno in 1879 — A church at Awhitu was built in 1877. (c)
Rev. Alex. Thomson was inducted in October 1880— The manse at
Waiuku was built in 1881 — Mr. Thomson left on August
29th, 1883, and supplied Mongonui. (d) Rev. P. J. Riddlk, of
Wairoa, Hawke's Bay, was inducted on April 25th, 1884 — A church
at Kohekohe was built in 188G, and opened by Rev. G. B. Monro —
Mr. Riddle was translated to Rakaia on August 7th, 1888. (c) Rev.
W. J. CoMBiE was ordained and inducted on May 15th, 1889, and
demitted his charge on June 2nd, 1891, having accepted a call to
Kelso, Otago — M., 94. (/) Rev. Robert B.^rr, sent out by the Free
Church, and sometime a labourer in South Africa, was inducted and
ordained on March 14th, 1892— E., 9 ; Mgrs., 15 ; M., 103 ; stipend,
£154 12s 3d.
(11) DEYONPORT.
(a) Rev. John Wallace, a probationer of the Free Church sent
out to take charge of North Shore, a rising suburb of Auckland,
"across the water," and Wade, was ordained and inducted on March
12th 1866 — A pretty little church to seat 120 was built, and the
charge grew — Mr. Wallace was translated to Whangarei in February
1870— Rev. Robert Sommerville, who, having met with an injury at
Avondale, was seeking health at North Shore, nobly kept the church
open by holding regular services, and succeeded in wiping off a debt
of £120. (6) Rev. P. J. McKenzie, provided by Rev. D. Bruce when
in Scotland, arrived in September 1871, ordained to Devonport, and
at once took charge. He resigned on October 14th 1873, and left for
Sydney — During a long vacancy, supply was given by Revs. P. Mason
and A. McCallum and students, (c) Rev. John McLeod, of Victoria,
was inducted on July 20th 1882, and resigned on February 27th 1883.
(d) Rev. A. McCallum was inducted on June 19th 1883, and
resigned on December 31.st 1888— M., 45 (c) Rkv. J. Hill, of
Lyttelton, was inducted on August 2'2nd 1889 — A handsome and
commodious church was built during his ministry — He resigned on
April 7th, 1896. (/) Rev. R. Ferguson, of Onehunga, was inducted
on July Ist, 1896, and has succeeded in establishing a strong con-
gregation— E., 4 ; M., 126 ; stipend, £250 ; revenue, £415.
AUCKLAND PEESBYTERY. 331
(12) THAMES.
This congregation originated in the Thames gold rush of 1867,
when Rev. Jas. Hill, of St. James', Auckland, visited the district —
On February 18th 1868, a committee was chosen for the erection of a
church, Mr. Jas. McKee, afterwards minister of Masterton, acting as
Convener — A new church which cost £150 was opened by Rev. J.
Hill on May 3rd 1868 — For some months the pulpit was supplied
by the ministers of the Auckland Presbytery, (a) Rev. James Hill,
of St. James', Auckland, was inducted on October 28th, 1868 —
That year £576 IBs 5d was raised — A more central site was secured,
and a more commodious church erected ; a manse was soon built on
a site given by the Maori chief ; and a church put up at Tararu,
where regular Sabbath services were held all during Mr. Hill's
fruitful ministry — Mr Hill was Moderator of Assembly in 1873 — He
was translated to Lyttelton in June 1877. (b) Rev. S. J. Neill,
of Cambridge, Waikato, was inducted in 1877 — Owing to his
connection with the Theosophieal Society and his indefinite teaching,
many forsook ordinances at the Thames — Mr Neill was suspended by
the Assembly on February 14th 1894. — Members in 1895, 84. (c) Rev.
John McKenzie, M.A., recently licensed by the Timaru Presbytery,
was ordained and inducted on October 2nd 1895 — A new church
seating 500 and costing £2000, was opened on July 24th, 1898, the
old church having been moved back and called St. James' Hall —
E., 5. ; Mgrs, 11 ; M., 97 ; stipend, £250 ; total revenue, £622
17s 4d.
(13) TAURANGA.
(m) In response to an open call, the Rev. G. Mokris arrived in
August 1868— He found that the people not being numerous or
financially strong could only guarantee a stipend of £93 instead of
£150 — For lack of adequate support he resigned on July 7th 1869,
and returned to Scotland— In October 1876 Tauranga asked the
Presbytery for a minister, (b) Rev. P. S. Hat, M.A., arrived from
Scotland in January 1877, and was at once settled in Tauranga — A
church was opened on November 30th, 1878 — Resignation of Mr. Hay
was accepted on June 1st 1881. (c) Rev. Jas. Killen, M.A., from
Ireland, was inducted on June 28th 1882, and translated to Whangarei
on October 17th 1883. (d) Rev. Alexander McLennan, M.A. , was in-
ducted on April 14th 1885 — A service at Kati Kati was begun on May
332 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
12th 1889, and at Te Puke on November 26th, 1890— Left for Manaia
August 1891— M., 40. (c) Rev. Thomas Scott, M.A., who came to
New Zealand for health, was inducted on May 19th 1892, and
transferred to Cambridge, Waikato, on June 30th 1896 — Tauranga
has since been supplied by Rev. John Headrick, a Free Church
minister in New Zealand — A service at Te Puna was commenced in
January 1894 — Mr. R. Badger, elder, chiefly supplies the outside
stations — E., 2 ; Mgrs , 7; M., 54; stipend, £180 (including allow-
ance for manse, £20, and Church Extension grant, £30), total
revenue, £164 5s Id.
(13) CAMBRIDGE.
Cambridge was at first like the rest of the Waikato under the care
of Rev. T. Norrie, and then of Rev. J. U. Taylor, who supplied from
Hamilton until his resignation on April 7th, 1869. (a) Rev. T.
Stewart, from Scotland, was called by Cambridge in September, 1872,
and inducted. He had pastoral oversight of the Waikato West until
it got a minister of its own — Mr. Stewart resigned on February 4th,
1874, and was inducted to the charge of Coromandel. (b) Rev. S. J.
Neill, from Ireland, was inducted in the Episcopal Church, Cambridge
on May 2nd, 1875— A neat church to seat 120 was soon built, and a
six-roomed manse erected on an acre of ground near the church —
Mr. Neill accepted a call to Thames on February 10th, 1878. (c)
Rev. W. Evans, of the Welsh Calvinistic Church, was inducted on
February 10th, 1878, and resigned on April 7th, 1890, after 18
years' faithful service at Cambridge, and 53 years in the ministry
of the Gospel — M., 102. ((/) Rev. T. Scott, M.A., of Tauranga, was
inducted on April 30th, 1896 — Attendances increasing, a now church
to seat 210, and to cost £650 was built, and opened in 1898 — E., 3;
M., 119 ; stipend, £200 ; total revenue, £221.
(15) COROMANDEL.
A meeting to form a congregation was held on March 27th,
1872, A. Aitken, Esq., C.E., being chairman, when Presbyterians
were reported to be numerous, (a) Rev. A. M. Tait was inducted on
December 20th, 1872, services being held in a hall now demolished ;
AUCKLAND PRESBYTEEY. 333
at close of first service it was resolved to build a church — A church,
after many delays in building, was opened on May 18th, 1873, by
Rev. J. Hill, of Thames, free of debt — Mr. Tait went to England in 1874.
(b) Rev. Thomas Stewart, of Cambridge, was inducted in 1874, and
went home for health in 1875. (c) Rev. J. M. Eraser, of Waipawa,
was inducted in 1878, his ministrations extending to Mercury Bay,
and left owing to the decrease of the population in 1873 — Mr. W.
Elmslie, a member of congregation, though a Baptist, and one of
the early settlers, conducted services and kept the congregation well
together for 14 years— A Sabbath School is still held in his house,
Mrs. Elmslie assisting, and sometimes divine service, (d) Rev. T.
A. NoRRiE was ordained and inducted on September 11th, 1894, after
a vacancy of 17 years — Mgrs., 9 ; M., 15 ; stipend, £111 8s.
(16) NGARUAWAHIA.
Occasional services were given by the Rev. T. Norrie and others
to settlers returned after the war. Rev. Thomas Stewart, called by
Cambridge, Hamilton, and Ngaruawahia, and inducted at Cambridge
on September 29th, 1872, had the whole of the Waikato as his
charge for a time. Cambridge became detached, and Ngaruawahia,
following its example, resolved to build a church in 1875. {a) Rev.
T. Scott, late of the Church of Scotland, was inducted on December
9th, 1875 — A church to seat 150 was begun in 187G and finished in
1877 — The charge being unable to support a minister, Mr. Scott
resigned on August 31st, 1876, and returned to Scotland — Services
were supplied by Mr. A. Barclay, elder, by students, and by Home
missionaries, under the supervision of the Presbytery, (h) Rev. W.
Smith, licentiate of Free Church, Scotland, was ordained to
Ngaruawahia and Huntly on February 22nd, 1898, and shortly after-
wards translated to Waikato West.
(17) ST. LUKE'S, AUCKLAND.
A meeting to establish a cause at Remuera, Epsom, and New-
market was held in Newmarket schoolroom September 24th, 1874—
St. Luke's was erected into a sanctioned charge on January 13th,
1875 — A church was bought for £500, the present site costing £350,
334 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
removal £349, or in all £1199 ; it was opened May 16th, 1875— A
Sunday School with Mr McFarlane as Superintendent was started —
Pulpit was supplied by Revs. Cathcart, Horner, Morice, &c.— A
communion roll of 66 formed September 1876. (a) Rev. G. B. Monro,
licentiate of Glasgow Free Church Presbytery, was ordained and
inducted on July 6th, 1877— A debt of £800 was wiped off before his
arrival — a Session of five members was formed in 1878 — the income
of congregation from the beginning averages £670, or £15,000 in all —
575 members have been added since the first roll was made in 1876
—There is no debt— Mr. Monro was Moderator of Assembly in 1887
— E., 9; Mgrs., 13; M., 230: stipend, £360; total revenue, £706
13s 8d.
(18) ST. STEPHEN'S, AUCKLAND.
The city having extended rapidly in a north-westerly direction
and a meeting of Presbyterians in Ponsonby Hall having decided to
take steps to form themselves into a congregation, the Presbytery
placed a committee of its members with full Presbyterial powers in
charge of the district — A new charge was formed on July 18th, 1870,
which promised a stipend of £250— Rev. D. W. Runciman, M.A.,
being granted two years' leave of absence from Leslie, Scotland, by
the Church of Scotland for his health, began services in Ponsonby
Hall in January, 1877 — A Session was now formed, and the
Presbyterial Committee discharged, (a) Rev. D. W. Runciman was
inducted on February 14th, 1878, the call being signed by 22
members and 45 adherents — A church with Gothic architecture and
a lofty spire was built on a site which cost £300, at the corner of
Jervois and Shelby Beach roads — This church, which cost £1406
and seated 250, was opened on January 28th, 1880, by Revs. Bruce,
Macnicol, and Runciman — Health not improving, Mr. Runciman
resigned on June 4th, 1889. (b) Rev. T. F. Robertson, formerly of
Strathblane, was inducted on July 25th, 1889, the call being signed by
46 members and 62 adherents, and the stipend £250— E., 3 ; Mgrs.,
9 ; M., 146 ; stipend, £250 ; total revenue, £520.
(19) OPOTIKI.
This district which is on the east side of the Bay of Plenty
comprises about 10,000 acres of exceedingly rich maize-growing land,
and has attracted a considerable population, of whom about one half
AUCKLAND PEESBYTERY. 335
are Presbyterians — In 1872 Eev. Jas. Martin, a Presbyterian
minister, appointed by the Defence Minister as a Native school
teacher, conducted Divine service each Sabbath for some time, with
the recognition of the Presbytery — Rev. D. Bruce visited the district
in 1877. (a) Rev. John Gow, late of St. Andrew's, Dunedin,
and formerly of Hokitika, was settled here at the end of 1878
— M., 19 — For five years services were held in the Public Hall
— A church was erected in 1883 ; Mr. J. Gordon and Mr. Thos.
Black giving £25 each — The church was enlarged in 1890 — A Session
was formed in 1885, a member of which, Mr. J. V. Murray, is still
connected with the congregation — Mr. Gow being nearly 80 years of
age resigned in 1891 — A manse was built in 1892 — M., 70. (6) Eev.
C. WoBBOYS, of Avondale, was inducted in April, 1893 — Mr.
J. B. Gow conducts a Bible class for young men and Mrs.
Worboys one for young women — E., 3; Mgrs., 7; M., 93; stipend,
£150 ; total revenue, £196.
(20) WAIKATO WEST.
This part of the Waikato was longer without a stated minister
than the Eastern side. It had at different periods enjoyed the ser-
vices of Revs. John Hall, Neill McCallum, and T. Blain ; but it was not
until September, 1872, that an attempt was made to call a minister.
It failed, and supply was given by students and others. Eev. Mr.
Mandens having settled in the district began services. He drew up a
•' Constitution " under which Congregationalists and Presbyterians
might work and worship together. A glebe of 25 acres and a house
secured under this agreement was sold in 1898 at the request of the
congregation by the Church Property Trustees, in order to provide a
manse in a more convenient locality, {a) Eev. James Bruce was
ordained and inducted on June 25th, 1879, and was translated to
Onehunga on March 3rd, 1881 — Students again supplied, (b) Eev.
B. Hdtson was ordained and inducted on June 16th, 1884,
and left on April 5th, 1887, for Whangarei. (c) Rev. John
Macdonald was ordained and inducted on June 8th, 1892, and
translated to Mangare on February 9th, 1898. (d) Eev. Walter
Smith, of Huntly, was inducted on June 1st, 1898— E., 2 ; M., 112 ;
Stipend, £165.
336 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
(21) PUKEKOHE AND POKENO.
The first services were begun here by Rev. T. Norrie, of Papa-
kura in 1857 — A church at Pukekohe East was opened on April 6th,
1863, and a few months later stockaded and attacked by Maoris —A
church at Mauku was opened on September IGth, 1866, and at
Ramarama on September 2,3rd of that year — A church at Pukekohe
was opened on May 17th, 1868— In 1873 Pukekohe and Tuakau were
were attached to Waiuku — A church at Queen's Redoubt was opened
on August 20th, 1874— A manse was built at Pukekohe, and Rev.
James Galloway came to reside there — Tuakau was again attached to
Papakura, and a church built there— Students residing at Pokeno
assisted Mr Norrie — In 1880 Rev. James Galloway died, deeply
regretted, and the present charge was formed, Pukekohe and Mauku
being taken from Waiuku, and Pokeno, Ramarama, Pukekohe East,
and Tuakau from Papakura. (a) Rev. T. R. Fokbes, a student from
Scotland, who had here been assisting Mr Norrie, was ordained and
inducted on November 18th, 1880; and through ill-health returned to
Europe and sent resignation by letter from England, August 3rd, 1881.
(h) Rev. T. W. Dunn was ordained and inducted on December 1st, 1881
— A church was built at Pokeno in 1885 and at Puni in 1887 — Mr
Dunn left for Victoria on April 5th, 18S7-M., 126. (c) Rev. W. F.
FiNDLAY was ordained and inducted on May 22nd, 1888— A new
church on a central site was built at a cost of £550, and opened on
January 2nd, 1898 — Services in 1896 were begun at Onewhero, across
the Waikato river— E., 6; M., 150; stipend, £166; total revenue,
£250 133.
(22) ST. DAVID'S, AUCKLAND.
The city extending, a schoolroom was built in 1864 at the upper
end of Symonds street, and the district worked as an out-station of
St. Andrew's. Rev. Dr. Wallis, late missionary at Demerara, was
appointed by St. Andrew's Session in October 1865, and gathered
a good congregation. Thinking the site not central enough,
he held Sabbath evening services in the Temperance Hall,
Newton, and, coming into collision with St. James' Session
and the Presbytery, resigned on July 1st, 1868, going to Matanana
Valley, Wanganui. Returning in September, he built a church
called " Newton Kirk," and established an independent congre-
gation. As a consequence, the Presbyterian church was closed
AUCKLAND PRESBYTERY. 337
till March 10th, 1878, when the old building, being renovated, was
reopened. Many of the old residents rallying around, St. David's
was formed into a regular charge on April 3rd, 1878— Rev. A. M.
McCallum, of the Free Church, Scotland, then took charge and
received but declined a call— Mr T. W. Dunn, a student from the
Church of Scotland, was appointed supply on February 5th,
1879, for a time — A new church, of Gothic architecture and
with a lofty spire, was built on the most commanding site
of all the city churches. It seated 300, and was opened on
November 14th, 1880. (a) Rev. Thomas Mackenzie Fkaser,
M.A., formerly of Geelong, was inducted on August 18th, 1881,
the call being signed by 31 members and 50 adherents— Mr Fraser
having a large Colonial experience, the charge soon surmounted its
difficulties and prospered— He died on August 10th 1885— The con-
gregation now sent calls in various directions, but in vain, (b) Rev.
R. S. West, a probationer, of Free Church, Scotland, was ordained
on October 18th 1887, the call being signed by 101 members and 90
adherents — M., 155 — The charge has greatly increased since then —
E., 8; Mgrs., 15 ; M., 319 ; stipend, £350 ; total revenue, £842 Os Id.
(23) ST. PETERS, AUCKLAND.
Auckland extending westward and Surrey Hill estate being
broken up, by direction of Presbytery a church was built, and opened
on December 22nd, 1894, cost, £800. (1) Rev. R. Sommekville
of Avondale was inducted July IGth, 1885— Population not gathering
around it as expected, the church was moved to a commanding
site on the North road, where there is a large population— Mr.
Sommerville was Moderator of the Assembly that met in Auckland
in 1883. For many years he has been the efficient Clerk of the
Auckland Presbytery. No one is better acquainted than be with the
history of its numerous charges. He also rendered an important
service to the Church as editor of The New Zealand Presbyterian
Magazine, which first appeared in January 1872, and was afterwards
called The Netv Zealand Church News.
(24) HAMILTON.
After the war the whole of the Waikato was under the care of the
Rev. T. Norrie, who visited it as frequently as possible. In October
1865, Mr J. U. Taylor, of Wanganui, was taken on trial for license by
338 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
the Presbytery, and shortly after was licensed, ordained, and sent to
to supply the most necessitous parts of the Waikato. He took up his
residence at Hamilton. The Rev. John Hall was also sent about the
same time, but after a few months' arduous labours, chiefly on the
western side, he found the district unable to support two ministers,
and returned to Auckland, and thence to Wanganui. Mr. Taylor now
took charge of the whole of the Waikato. He preached each Sabbath
at Hamilton, his principal station, and at Cambridge and Ngaruawahia
on alternate Sabbaths, and occasionally at Waikato West and Raglan.
—The congregation at Hamilton, which met for a time in Mr. Tay-
lor's house, built a church in 1866— Mr. Taylor, who in spite of many
difficulties, did good work among the military settlers, resigned on
April 7th, 1869, and went to Victoria— Hamilton was then supplied
from Cambridge by Revs. Stewart, Neill, and Evans. During 1891 it
was supplied as a preaching station by Messrs. Fulton and Raeburn,
students— On July 1st, 1885, in response to a petition of the congre-
gation, Hamilton was erected into a separate charge, (a) Rev. J. S.
Boyd was inducted on October 22nd, 1885, the call being signed by
35 members and 33 adherents — He resigned on June 7th, 1887— Rev,
John Hendrie, a retired Indian missionary of the U. P. Church,
supplied from May 1st, 1888, to February 4th, 1896, and Rev. D.Ross
until a permanent pastor arrived, (b) Rev. J. M, Mitchell, who was
sent by the Free Church, to which a strong appeal was made, and
aided for three years, was inducted on December 16th, 1896 — The
congregation now shows fresh signs of life and hope— E., 3 ; M., 36.
(25) MANGARE.
Most of the well-to-do Scotch farmers of this fertile district
lying between Onehunga and Otahuhu drive to the church of latter
place -A church, however, seating 120 erected 1871-72— On April
1872 Rev. John Macky undertook an afternoon service every alternate
Sabbath— Mangare disjoined from Otahuhu at request of congrega-
tion made on July 1st, 1874— A stipend of £200 offered— Rev. G.
Brown of Onehunga gave afternoon supply till December, 1897 —
Onehunga paying £170 and Mangare £130 united to call Rev. Jas.
Bruce, who was inducted to united charge on April 18th, 1881—
Mangare disjoined from Onehunga on December loth, 1891— Rev. A.
M. McCallum supplied for a year; and then Rev. John Headrick till
a minister was called (a) Rev. John Macdonald, of Waikato West,
was inducted February 2nd, 1898— E., 2 ; M., 40.
AUCKLAND PRESBYTERY. 339
(26) WAIPU NORTH.
This charge was formed through a section of the Waipu people
agitating for a Gaelic-speaking minister — Rev. W. Macrae, having
returned, preached to the dissatisfied in a local hall for a time. The
Presbytery being petitioned by them, after long and anxious con-
sideration, formed them into a new charge on December 1st, 18'J6.
(a) Rev. W. Thompson, M.A., B.D., an excellent Gaelic scholar from
the Church of Scotland, arrived in March 1897, and being called was
inducted on June 1st, 1898— He is minister now of a large and
prosperous congregation.
(27) KNOX CHURCH, AUCKLAND.
A meeting on March 7th, 1898, was held in Sowerby's Hall,
Auckland, Mr, A. Bell being in the chair, to form a congregation at
Parnell — Parnell was recognised as a preaching station on March 28
— The first services were held in the Oddfellows' Hall on April 10th,
1898. (a) Rev. Hugh Kelly, M.A., of Waimate, was inducted on
July 21st, 1898 — A Session was formed on October 2nd, and a Com-
mittee on October 10th — A site was secured on Hobson Park road,
and on November 29th, 1898, the foundation-stone of a new church,
to cost £2000, was laid by His Excellency the Governor, the Right
Hon. the Earl of Ranfurly, K.C.M.G., d'c — E., 9; Mgrs., 12;
stipend, £300, with £50 in lieu of manse.
S40
HISTORY OP N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
M
'I
II.
WELLINGTON
PRESBYTERY
(Formed
November 3rd,
1837).
(1) ST. ANDREW'S.
(a) Rev. John
Macfarlanb, who
arrived in February
1840, was the first
minister of any
Church who came
out expressly to
minister to the sett-
lers, and for a time
was the only clergy-
man in Wellington.
Services were held
at first in private
houses, and then in
the Exchange, people
of all denominations
attending. The first
New Zealand Church
built by the settlers
was opened by Mr
Macfarlane, assisted
by Mr Duncan, on
January 17th, 1844.
Mr Macfarlane de-
8T. ANDREWS' CHURCH, WELLINGTON.
WELLINGTON PRESBYTERY. 341
parted for Scotland by the "Bella Marina "in October 1844, and,
contrary to his intention when leaving, became parish minister of
Lochgilphead, in Argyllshire. During the vacancy the Presbyterians
at Wellington drew upon the services of Revs. John Inglis and James
Duncan, Maori missionaries, (b) Rev. W. Kirton, another minister
of the Church of Scotland, arrived on February 16th, 1850, and,
after 13 years' service in Wellington, accepted a call to Kaiapoi in
January 1863. (c) The Eev. James Stirling Mdir, son of the
Rev. Dr Muir, St. James', Glasgow, and minister of Wall Street, in
the Islington district, London, arrived in Wellington in 1864. He
was sent out by the Church of Scotland, and brought with him a
high recommendation from the Rev. Dr Cumming, of prophetic
reputation. During his pastorate, the church was re-built. His
stay in Wellington was short. He remained for about six years, and
then accepted a call to Sydney. An interregnum of a few years then
ensued, during which the Rev. Mr, Cumming, a Free Church
minister who had been labouring in the Rangitikei district, took
temporary oversight, {d) The fourth minister of St. Andrew's, who
is now in charge, was the Rev. C. S. Ogg, M.A., a graduate of the
Aberdeen University, and minister of the Church of Scotland.
He had had charge for a time of a congregation in Canada.
He reached Wellington on December 15th, 1872. Owing to the
isolated position of St. Andrew's, he read himself into the
charge. The present beautiful edifice originated in this way : —
One night at dinner, Mr Macandrew, Superintendent of the Province
of Otago, turned suddenly to Mr. Ogg, and said, " Mr. Ogg, your
church is one of the best business localities in the City, but with no
special advantages for a kirk. The time is one of great prosperity,
and land is bringing high prices. Why not sell ? " The matter was
considered. His advice was taken, and the site and church on
Lambton Quay sold for a large sum of money to the Colonial Bank,
whose late offices stood upon it. The price realised was found
sufficient to erect an elegant new church. It was considered
important that the Presbyterian Church should be represented
in the Thorndon end of the town, inasmuch as in that quarter
there is the residence of His Excellency the Governor, Parlia-
ment House, and other State buildings.
It was an important event in the history of St. Andrew's when,
after an isolation of 34 years, the congregation decided to cast in its
342 HISTOEY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
lot with the New Zealand Presbyterian Church. The former
reserved to itself the right to administer the properties belonging to
it for its own benefit according to the trusts set forth, and was able
to point to an Act of Incorporation passed by the Colonial
Legislature conferring this power upon it. The General Assembly
of 1874 cordially received both minister and people on those terms.
This, as far as our communion is concerned, was the removal of the
last relic of the Home Country's ecclesiastical strifes.
When in 1882 the Wellington Presbytery became the Church
Extension Committee, Mr. Ogg was appointed Honorary Treasurer,
and has ever since kept a watchful eye on all disbursements and
faithfully discharged the duties of the office — E., 6 ; M., 127 ; stipend,
£300 ; revenue, £345.
(2) HUTT.
Occasional services were at first given by the Rev. John
Macfarlane, first minister of Wellington, and Revs. Duncan and
Inglis, missionaries of the Reformed Church of Scotland to the
Maoris, (a) The Rev. W. Dkon arrived in 1852, and after laV)uring
for six years sailed for Home on June 12th, 1858, somewhat
disappointed regarding Colonial ministerial life, {b) Rev. John
Thom, late of Turakina, began work on August 9th, 1858 — The
first church at Lower Hutt was opened in November, 1858, and cost
about £40 — Mr. Thom left for Auckland and Taranaki at the end of
1860 — During the vacancy Rev. Jas. Duncan and Mr. Woodward,
a Congregational preacher, gave supply, (c) Rev. W. McGowan was
inducted on January 8th, 1866, and translated to Lyttelton, July 4th,
1870— Rev. John Moir supplied services during 1870-78 ; Mr. George
Grant, a student, 1878-81, when the present church at Upper Hutt
was opened in 1880, costing £300 ; and Mr. William Grant 1881-83.
(d) Rev. D. D. Rouger, who came as a Free Church evangeUst to
Napier in 1881, and was licensed on March 21st, 1883, was ordained
and inducted on June 13th, 1883, and after labouring energetically
for five years accepted a call to Cust and Oxford in June 1888.
(e) Rev. Joun W. Hope, M.A., late assistant of Rev. John Watson,
Liverpool, was ordained and inducted on April 29th, 1890 — A new
church at Lower Hutt, which cost £500, was opened by Rev. G.
Webster the same year— Mr. Hope died on June 2yth, 1892, the
Presbytery putting on record the following minute : —
WELLINGTON PRESBYTERY. 343
" His ministry was indeed brief, but earnest and faithful, and
although carried on amid mucli bodily weakness it was not without
tokens of success. All who knew Mr. Hope recognised in him a man
of superior ability, of fine culture, of gentlemanly bearing, and of
upright Christian character ; a man, too, of faith and courage,
standing at his post and doing his duty up to the very last," &c.
Members 64. (/') Rev. Andkew Gray was ordained and in-
ducted on October 10th, 1893 — The present church at Wallaceville
was opened in December 1893 ; cost, about £120 — E., 5 ; M., 124 ;
stipend, £200.
(3) ST. JOHN'S, WELLINGTON.
A memorial signed by 69 persons residing in Wellington was
sent Home to the Free Church of Scotland during the second year of
Mr Kirton's pastorate, {a) Rev. John Moir came and began work on
November 30th, 1853 — A church costing £1000 was erected in Willis
street in 1856, and a house was soon bought for a manse.
After ministering to this charge for fourteen years, the Rev. John
Moir resigned in 1867, owing to one of those misunderstandings that
sometimes crop up between pastor and people without serious blame
attaching itself to either side. If there was any discourteous
treatment of him on the part of the congregation, the latter
did much to atone for it by allowing him to remain in undisturbed
possession of the old manse, and regularly paying him the sum of
£100 till the time of his death, or for almost thirty years. This, at
a time when the Aged and Infirm Ministers Fund was getting under
weigh, was a great boon to a senior minister. Though the congrega-
tion fluctuated a good deal from time to time after the manner of
Colonial charges generally, it never repudiated the obligation under
which it had come.
No minister was immediately forthcoming, but the Rev. John
Hall, of the Irish Presbyterian Church, now of Westport, who had
been labouring at Wanganui and the West Coast and was on his way
home to Ireland, stepped into the breach and for a time elliciently
supplied the congregation.
344 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
(b) On the resignation of Mr. Moir a request was transmitted by the
Wellington Presbytery to the Colonial Committee of the Free Church
to select a minister. Its choice fell on the Rev. James Paterson, who
had just reached the eleventh year of his ministry in Everton Valley
Presbyterian Church, Liverpool. The stipend offered was £400.
When the call was put into his hands by the Lancashire Presby-
tery, Mr Paterson, in accepting it, stipulated that he should be
permitted to go out to Wellington to minister to the congregation for
a time without being bound to them or they to him, but that if after
trial of each other both parties were satisfied, the call might be
renewed and accepted. Accordingly, Mr Paterson, accompanied by
his wife, set sail, and arrived in Wellington on August 24th, 1868.
Three months afterwards the call was renewed and accepted, and Mr
Paterson occupies a prouder position to-day than he should other-
wise have done, and the rights of the people to select their own
office-bearers have been strictly preserved. Another honour con-
ferred upon him was that he was inducted by the General
Assembly then in session in Wellington. The Maori war was
raging on the West Coast of the North Island. Its
ravages suggested to the supreme court the appointment of a
day of humiliation and prayer. The ministers of the Wellington
Presbytery from Wanganui downwards could not leave their charges,
and a meeting of Presbytery could not be held. Such was Mr.
Paterson's energy and the success attendant on his labours in a eity
whose population was 7000 and daily increasing, that the church had
to be enlarged. Even thus it proved insufficient to accommodate the
hearers who flocked to and crowded the place. To meet the
necessities of the case the congregation decided to pull down the
existing edifice and build a new church capable of holding 600
people, at a cost of nearly £4000. The project was enthusiastically
taken up, and £2400 was at once subscribed. It shows the
importance of Willis street congregation and the liberal spirit that
existed in those days that the foundation of the new structure was
laid by the Governor, the Marquis of Normanby, Rev. Mr. West,
Congregational minister, giving out the 100th Psalm, and the
Rev. W. Morley, a Wesleyan, reading a portion of Scripture. It was
on a par with this that Bishop Suter should invite Mr. Paterson to
dinner when his ship on the voyage out touched at Nelson. All the
Churches were then struggling into existence. Each sympathised
with his neighbour's difficulties. Competition between them was not
WELLINGTON PRESBYTERY. 345
so keen as it is now. Ministers " were like brothers in the brave
days of old." On the night of May 9th, 1884, the church that cost
so much and had been only nine years in existence was completely
destroyed by fire. This seems to have put the congregation on its
mettle. A year afterwards the foundation stone of a still more
magnificent church was laid by Sir James Prendergast, Chief Justice
of New Zealand, Mr. James Smith, the Congregational Treasurer,
intimating at the close of the ceremony that the church was to cost
£5469, and that of this siim £3140 had been either paid or promised.
This is the church which now stands on the rising hill, and is an
ornament as well as blessing to the city.
Mr. Paterson himself figures prominently in the Church courts,
where he sways considerable influence as a man of large experience
and the possessor of a well-balanced mind. He has been entrusted
successively with two very important offices in the Church. For a
time he acted as Convener of the Foreign Mission Committee, and
since 1882 he has been the diligent and laborious Convener and
Secretary of the Church Extension Committee. In a rising young
Colony this Committee naturally plays a conspicuous part in
following settlers into sparsely populated districts and supplying
them with ordinances and in fostering weak charges into an indepen-
dent life. His own congregation is by far the largest contributor in
the Church to this important Fund.
Since Mr. Paterson took over the pastorate of St. John's, the
city has grown from 7000 to 38,600 inhabitants, while the Church
membership has increased from 150 to 498, the sitting accommodation
from 250 to 900, the stipend from £400 to £600, and the annual
revenue from £800 to £2224.
Outside his own congregation and communion, Mr. Paterson
has taken a deep interest in education, primary, secondary, and
university, having a seat on the Wellington Education Board, on
the Board of Wellington College Governors, and on the New Zealand
University Senate— E., 21; Mgrs., 18; M., 495; stipend, £600;
total revenue, £2250.— Debt, £1500.
(i) MASTERTON.
(a) Rev. P. Mason, late missionary in the West Indies, arrived
in Wairarapa on February 14th, 1859, and left for Turakina in
September 1859. (b) Rev. John Ross, recently of Caithness, was
346 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
inducted on October 28th, 1867— A Session was formed on November
13th, 1807— A church at Masterton was opened on April 25th, 1869—
A manse was built in 1873— Mr Ross itinerated from Wanganui to
Castlepoint, supplying Featherston, Waihenga, Lower Valley,
Greytown, Gladstone, Opoki, and Carterton, &c.— Mr. Ross, who
did a good work iu Wairarapa, and was greatly beloved by all in that
wide district, left for Turakina June 14th, 1871. (c) Rev. Jas. Lawrie
was inducted on February 25th, 1872, and departed for Australia on
December 14th 1874— M., 35. {d) Rev. Jas. McKee was inducted on
August 10th 1875 ; stipend, £250 ; and was translated to Waimate
August 1882 — M., 70. (e) Rev. David Fulton was ordained and
inducted on June 14th 1883, and demitted his charge April 3rd
1890, going to New South Wales— M., 110, (/") Rev. Robt. Wood,
of Wyndham, Southland, was inducted on October 1st, 1890 —
A new church building scheme was agreed to in October, 1898,
which embraced removing manse to new site, placing present church
on manse site and turning it into Sunday School hall, and building
new church to occupy site of old one ; the estimated cost of this
work was £2500 ; considerably under 20 members promised sums
amounting to £1000 — Mr. Wood was for several years Convener of
Committee on State of Religion and Morals, and having a facile pen
was for a number of years a sub-editor for the Outlook — E., 8 ; M.,
195 ; stipend, £250 ; total revenue, £436 10s 3d.
(5) WAIHENGA (MARTINBOROUGH).
A small church was opened in June 1871, costing £100, by Rev.
J. Ross, of Masterton. (a) Rev. John Linds.\y was ordained and
inducted in January 1872— A manse was built in 1876 ; cost £300 —
He returned to the Old Country in 1877 ; Mr. Johnston Walker, a
probationer, supplying the vacancy, (b) Rev. W. Panton Brown
arrived in 1878, and after officiating for some time was inducted in
1879— There was then a lack of financial organisation. The Church
Extension Committee gave a giant of £50 in 1880— Mr. Brown
accepted a call to Otago, in 1880. (c) Rev. John Stewart, who
came as a lay evangelist to Napier in April, 1877, and who
had been labouring for two years at Manaia, was ordained on
April 10th, 1882, and was called to South Australia in 1884— Mr.
Alex. Thomson, student, supplied services for 4^ years, (d) Rkv.
Jas. Lymbdrn, late of the Glasgow City Mission, was ordained and
WELLINGTON PBESBYTERY. 347
inducted October 3rd, 1889 — A church, which cost £420, was opened
in January 1891 — There are also good churches at Morrison's Bush
and Burnside, and one is expected to be erected during 1899 at
Featherston— Other stations are Lower Valley, Kaiwaiwai, and
Pahau — E., 4 ; M. (including Featherston), 52; stipend, £200 ;
total revenue, £249 Ts.
(6) ST. JAMES', WELLINGTON.
At an early date the rapid growth of the city called for increased
church accommodation on the part of the Presbyterian denomina-
tion. Many circumstances combined to augment the population and
ensure the prosperity of the city. It enjoyed a central position in
the Islands. It had a magnificent harbour where the largest ocean-
going steamers could float in safety. Two lines of railway opened up
the country around, and acted as feeders. The last and not least was
that in 1864 the seat of Government was transferred from Auckland
to Wellington, a consummation long and devoutly wished. The
result of this was that a large number of civil servants took up their
residence in the city, and the city was proclaimed the Capital of New
Zealand, and enjoyed all the honour and prestige associated there-
with.
After much consideration and some difference of opinion, it
was decided that the next church should be at Newtown, in which
direction many saw that the city, shut in by the hills and the sea,
must eventually more and more extend itself. A mission station
was established here by St. Johns', Wellington, and worked for a
time in connection with it. An acre of ground was purchased on
Adelaide road for £350, and a small church erected at a cost of
£200. As the Christian name of three of the four trustees was
James, it was resolved to call the new church and congregation St.
James. Mr Jas. McNeil, student evangelist, supplied for a time.
(a) The Kev. J. K. Elliott was inducted on March 16th, 1885.
He had come to New Zealand a few months previously commissioned
by the Irish Presbyterian Church, for the sake of his wife's health,
and had taken up work vigorously in the new charge. It soon became
evident that additional space, especially for the Sabbath Schools,
was urgently required. A conflict of opinion arising over the best
way to supply the want, Mr Elliott with the consent of bis ofl&ce-
348 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
bearers and a large portion of bis charge, resigned, and was released
by the Presbytery on the 4th of May, 1886. By this secession the
congregation was greatly weakened, {b) After a variety of temporary
supply, the Rev. W. Shireb, a licentiate of the U. P. Church,
was ordained on September 18th, 1888. During his ministry the
church was soon enlarged at a cost of £239, a comfortable manse
built the estimate for which was £500, and a considerable congre-
gation gathered— Mr. Shirer is clerk of the Wellington Presbytery —
E., 4 ; Mgrs., 8 ; M., 162 ; stipend, £250 ; total revenue, £524 18s 5d.
(7) KENT TERRACE, WELLINGTON.
When Mr. Elliott resigned St. James' the object of himself, his
oflSce-bearers, and friends was to obtain a site for a church nearer
the centre of population. They believed at the time that Newtown
was prematurely chosen for that purpose. No time was lost by
them in carrying out their design. Free from all restraint, they
purchased a section at the corner of Kent terrace and Pirie street,
at a cost of £750, and erected on it a commodious hall, costing
£600, to serve the double purpose of church and Sabbath School.
While it was being built the congregation worshipped in the Lyceumi
the decadent infidel section then in charge being glad, in spite of
their principles, to receive the weekly rent of £1.
On application, minister and congregation were cordially received
by the Presbytery, and the former inducted into Kent terrace Presby-
terian Church on October 5th, 1886, five months after he had
resigned Newtown charge. Two years subsequently the Presby-
terial finding, after referring to the rapid increase of the congrega-
tion and the faithfulness of the pastor and oflice-boarers, wound
up:—
"The Presbytery would express their gratification at the
erection of a commodious building in which to worship God in a
quarter of the City of Wellington where a Presbyterian Church wa$
much needed.'*
The congregation now grew apace. In 1897 a beautiful new
church was erected, costing about £2000, and a suitable manse
purchased. Attendance at worship has increased since new church
was built — Kent terrace is noted for its liberality toward the Foreign
WELLINGTON PRESBYTERY. 349
Mission. This is a good sign of a congregation. Minister and
people pull well together — Mr. Elliott was Convener of the Temper-
ance Committee for a number of years — There are 360 scholars in
the Sabbath School, and 41 teachers— In 1898 £250 of debt was
wiped off, leaving the debt £1900 -E., 13 ; M., 283 ; stipend, £350 ;
total revenue, £1078.
(8) WAIRARAPA SOUTH.
Mr. Alexander Whyte, B.D., B.Sc, student of the U. P.
Church, arrived in September 1888, and began services at Carterton,
Gladstone, and Greytown, under the auspices of the Church Exten-
sion Committee. On his returning to Scotland, at the end of ten
weeks' work, Rev. C. Murray, M.A., late missionary in Ambrym,
New Hebrides, was appointed in November. Shortly after, it was
raised to a sanctioned charge, (a) The Rev. Charles Mukbay was
inducted on January 30th, 1889, as its first minister — Sections of
land were bought at Carterton and Greytown for building sites, and
churches, seated for 200 each were erected at Carterton and Grey-
town — The one at Carterton, built in 1889, cost £376 ; the other at
Greytown, built in 1890, cost £500 — A two-storey manse was built at
Carterton, in 1893, at a cost of £481 — Except £100, the Carterton
property is free of debt ; £150 still remains on the Greytown pro-
perty — In 1898 there were 6 elders, 127 communicants, and 220
children attending Sunday School — The stipend given is £200 ; the
total ordinary revenue for 1896-97 was £268 18s 2d. Mr Murray
accepted a call to Feilding, where he was inducted on November
16th, 1898. {b) Rev. Robert Richie, formerly of the Established
Church, Scotland, has succeeded him — E., 6 ; M., 127 ; stipend,
£200 ; revenue, £358.
(9) PETONE.
At first, services were conducted in the afternoon by the city
ministers, then by Mr Johnston, a licentiate of the Otago Church, and
later by Mr. T. M'Donald (now minister of Hawcra), a student of the
Free Church, who had nearly complettd his theological course when
he was ordered abroad for his health's sake, and arrived in Wellington
on February 2nd 1888. (a) Rev. Alexander Tuomson, who had
350 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
served a good apprentioeship on the Glasgow City Mission and as
student evangelist in Patea and Waihenga, was ordained and inducted
on August 1st, 1889 — A beautiful church and manse were soon built,
and a good congregation gathered — E., 4; Mgrs., G; M., 80;
stipend, £200 ; total revenue, £317 16s 3d.
(10) PAHIATUA.
Attention was directed to the rising township of Pahiatua,
services commenced and judiciously fostered there, and a regular
charge formed in 1893. Among those who helped to consolidate the
congregation was the Rev. R. Wood, of Masterton, who did some
pioneering work, Mr. John McKenzie (now minister of Thames), who
spent six months in organisation, and Mr. Wallace, formerly of
Danevirke. (a) Rev. W. Philip, who had been for some years a
minister in the Falkland Islands, was inducted on September 25th,
1893, and succeeded in establishing a successful cause there. He
was translated to Manaia in March, 1898, and as no minister was
available to take up the work Mr. James McCaw, Home Missionary,
was aiDpointed in January, 1899, for three years.
CHEISTCHURCH PRESBYTERY. 351
III.— CHRISTCHURCH PRESBYTERY.
(Formed January 26th, 1869.)
(1) ST. ANDREW'S, CHRISTCHURCH.
This was the first Presbyterian congregation established in Canter-
bury—A Committee was formed in 1854, Mr. W.Wilson being secretary.
(a) Rev, C. Eraser arrived in April, 1856, and officiated for a time in
the Wesleyan churches of Lyttelton and Christchurch— The stipend
received was £200— A church costing £900 was opened on February
1857— A Deacons' Court was formed by Session and congregation in
July 1858— A commodious manse, that was to be distinguished for
its hospitality, was erected in 1860— The church was enlarged in
1862, and subsequently— Mr Eraser's connection with the ministry
terminated on January 16th, 1883. (h) Rev. W. Dixwiddie, LL.B.,
of North Belt, Christchurch, was inducted November 12th, 1883,
but, owing to ill-health, resigned on March 30th, 1886, and left for
the Old Country— Members 150-Rev. Jas. Mcintosh supplied for a
time, living with his family in the manse, (c) Rev. G. Webster, M.A.,
late of Free Church, Govan, Ayrshire, was inducted December 16th,
1887, the stipend being £400— The manse was enlarged in 1889, and
the church was reconstructed in 1892 at a cost of £2000— Mr.
Webster, who was Moderator of Assembly in 1898, takes a prominent
part in the business of the Church Courts. His opinions are always
listened to with respect. As Convener of the Union Committee he
has done much to smooth the way for the union of the Northern and
Southern Churches. He is a member of the Judicial and Scholarship
Committees, and of the Christchurch College Board, and inside and
outside the Church has done much to promote the cause of education.
— E., 8; D., 8; M., 216 ; stipend, £400; total revenue, £713 10s.—
Fuller information about St. Andrew's will be found elsewhere.
(2) AKAROA.
Services were begun in 1857 by Rev. C. Eraser in the house of Mrs
E. Brown, who settled in district in 1844, and has always been a staunch
friend of the Presbyterian Church— Two years afterwards a building
352 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
for church and schoolhouse was erected chiefly through the exertions
of Mr. E. Hay, another good friend of the Church who came to the
district in 1843, and Messrs Gillespie and Stewart — Services con-
ducted by Messrs Gillespie (son of the elder and first teacher brought
out by Mr. Eraser), Fitzgerald, and Knowles (now Canon Knowles) —
Akaroa and Duvauchelles Bay united forces and sent Home £100 for
passage and outfit of a minister, (a) Rev. George Grant, of the
Free Church, Scotland, arrived in the end of 1862 — He accepted a
call to St. Paul's, Christchurch, in April, 1864 — A vacancy of 10 years,
during which the church had broken windows and a leaky roof, and
the Hay family entertained various supplies at Pigeon Bay and
provided them with a horse, (b) Rev. W. Douglas was ordained
December 2nd, 1874, the call being signed by 18 members and
73 adherents, and the stipend £250, with manse about to be erected
— Waimea added to charge — Little River supplied for a time, but
passed over to the Bible Christians — Mr. Gillespie for 20 years an elder
at Pigeon Bay, did much to uphold the ministers' hands, and exercised
a wide influence for good in the district — Mr. Douglas was translated
to Hokitika March 29th, 1881. (c) Rev. R. C. Morrison, late of
Otago, was inducted April 3rd, 1882, and resigned May 13th, 1884.
(d) Rev. D. McLennan, of Pleasant Point, was inducted at Pigeon
Bay, May 4th, 1885 — A new church opened June 13th, 1887 —
Through rheumatic fever he resigned on June 4th, 1890, and went to
New South Wales, (e) Rev. J. B. Finlay, from Ireland, was
ordained and inducted September 17th, 1890— Not strong enough for
the scattered charge he resigned on October 10th, 1895, and went
Home, returning afterwards to Wellington. (J) Rev. D. Jamieson,
M.A., from Glasgow, was inducted November 23rd, 1897, at Akaroa
— E., 6 ; M., 106 ; Mgrs., 24 ; stipend, £250 ; total revenue, £303.
(3) KAIiPOI.
A school and church building erected in 1860, Rev. C. Eraser
and others ofiQciating at Kaiapoi occasionally, (a) Rev. W. Kikton,
of Wellington, accepted a call on February 6th, 1863, to Kaiapoi
and Rangiora, stipend promised, £200— a manse built in August,
1865, costing £400— Mr. Kirton died August 27th, 1871. (/>) Rev.
W. McGregor, of Taradale, was inducted in 1872— Old building sold
and new church erected in 1874— Rangiora separated from Kaiapoi,
CHRISTCHURCH PRESBYTERY. 353
April 8th, 1880— Mr. McGregor resigned, July 22nd, 1880. (c) Rev. R.
McGregor ordained and inducted, February 17th, 1881 — Belfast
attached to Kaiapoi, 1886— He resigned through ill health, February
5th, 1891. (d) Rev. W. Gow, of Reef ton, inducted, July 2nd, 1891,
stipend, £240 — Belfast disjoined on May 10th, 1898, reducing
stipend — E. , 4; communicants, 90; stipend, £200; total revenue,
£308 16s lOd ; families, 90.
(i) AMURI.
A district extending from the Hurunui to the Clarence River,
and from the Spencer Range to the sea. (a) Rev. W. Hogg, late of
Bally-James-Duff, Ireland, began to itinerate in this region in
January 1864, working it from Kaiapoi, and afterwards from Sefton,
where there was built for him a manse of cob in 1866— In addition to
monthly journeys through this churchless, schoolless, and bridgeless
district he carried on work at Leithfield, Salt Water Creek, Mount Grey
Downs, Ashley Bank, andLoburn, his visitations extending to Rangiora
and the Cust— Mr. Hogg left for Ross, Westland, in February 1872. (h)
Rev. W. R. Campbell, B.A., formerly of Timaru, who had been
labouring at Waiau for the last four months of 1874, was inducted
on February 2nd, 1875, as minister of Amuri and Cheviot — Services
at first in Courthouse at Waiau, but soon a church and an acre of
ground were both presented by the late Mr. G. Rutherford, of Leslie
Hill, ever a good friend to the Church— A manse was built on five
acres of land given by the late Mr. Caverhill, then of Highfield —
Population increasing, a new church was erected at Waiau in 1888,
the old one being retained as a Sunday School — A church was built
at Culverden in 1891 — At the Hct Springs, Hanmer Plains, in 1892
— The latter being overthrown by a hurricane was rebuilt in 1893 —
A church was built at McKenzie, Cheviot, in 1896— Cheviot for two
years has been worked by a preacher who receives £100 per annum
— Mgrs., 10; stipend, £200; total revenue, £230.
(8) ST. PAUL'S, CHRISTCHURCH.
Congregation formed in 1863 and organised in 1864. (a) Rev.
G. Grant, of Akaroa, was inducted in Town Hall, April 20th,
1864 — Elders and deacons chosen the same year— Old St. Paul's
354 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Church, now used for a Sunday School, was built in 1867, costing,
with site, £1000— Mr Grant, the fragrance of whose ministry is still
in the congregation, resigned in December 1868, and, leaving
for Home in the ill-fated ship Motoaka, was never heard of again — A
vacancy of two years, during which services were conducted by Revs.
R. Powell, J. D. Ferguson, and W. McGowan. {b) Rev. A. F. Douglas,
formerly of Alnwick, Northumberland, England, arrived in January
1871, a stipend of £350 being guaranteed for two years — Mr. Douglas,
who did much Church Extension Work, left to labour in Westport in
July 1875— During the vacancy the pulpit was supplied by Rev, J. D.
Ferguson — M., 250. (c) Rev. John Elmslie, M.A., of Wanganui, was
inducted May 4th, 1876, the stipend being £700 without manse —
Present church costing with site £11,300, was opened October 31st,
1877 — In 1880 a manse was bought for £1500 and stipend reduced to
£600 with manse — In 1885, at the minister's own instigation, stipend
was reduced to £500, and in 1888 it became £450, the debt being
then over £7000 — In 1890 the University of Aberdeen conferred on
Mr. Elmslie the honorary degree of D.D. — A legacy of £200 was left
by Miss Fanny Stevens in 1894, of £20 by Mr. J. Kilpatrick in 1895,
and of £1900 by Mr. Thomas Owen in 1898, which, with other efforts,
will reduce the debt to £4500— Dr. Elmslie left for Old Country in
May 1898 on a leave of six or seven months — During last 22 years,
the period of the present pastorate, the congregation has raised
£33,000— E., 13; D., 24; M., 410; stipend, £450, with manse; total
revenue, £1413 10s.
(6) LYTTELTON.
Rev. C. Eraser's first service in New Zealand was held in
Wesleyan Church, Lyttelton, on the first Sunday in April 185G, the
day he landed — A Sabbath evening service was given by him for
some time — A school and church building, now used for a Sunday
School, was erected in 1859— Mr. J. D. Ferguson arrived from
Scotland as teacher in 1860, his salary for teaching and preaching
being £200 — A Sabbath School was established in February 1862 —
Lyttelton was recognised as a preaching station July 13th, 1864, and
the Lord's Supper dispensed January 1865 — A new church was
opened in January 1865; it cost £2000, £1000 being given by the
Provincial Government and £1000 raised locally — Mr. Ferguson,
who gathered a good congregation, was licensed by Presbytery in
CHRISTCHURCH PRESBYTERY. 355
1866. (a) Rev. John Gow, late of Free Church, Cannylie, Scotland,
waa inducted December 12th, 1865, and accepted a call to Hokitika
January 9th, 1867. (h) Rev. Jo3. McIntosh, late of Knockando,
Scotland, and sent out by Prof. Lumsdea, was inducted .January
2l3t, 1868, and left for Greymouth January 26th, 1870. (c) Rev.
W. McGowAN, recently of the Hutt, Wellington, was inducted in the
end of October 1870, and being advanced in years he resigned
October 12th, 1876. (d) Rev. Jas. Hill, of the Thames, was
inducted June 14th, 1877 ; the stipend being £400— The manse was
built in 1880; the cost was £703— Mr. Hill accepted a call to
Devonport July 24th, 1889. (e) Rev. J. H. Mackenzie, of Wallace-
town, Southland, was inducted December 12th, 1889, and translated
to Nelson March 9th, 1892. (/") Rev. A. H. Treadwell, B.A., was
ordained and inducted June 16th, 1892— He was appointed Clerk of
Presbytery September 13th, 1893— Charteris Bay and Teddington
were placed under the care of Lyttelton Session — E., 4; M., 85;
stipend, £222 ; total revenue, £300.
(7) LINCOLN AND PREBBLETON.
Services began in the house of Mrs. Todd, who was the first
white woman seen at Ricearton, and who came to Lincoln in 1858 —
In a building now used, after enlargement, for a Sunday School and
built about 1862, Mr. Bowie, who was brought out by Mr. Fraser,
taught, and religious services were occasionally held— The church
at Prebbleton was erected in 1865. {a) Rev. John Campbell,
of Riwaka, was inducted February 21st, 1866 — The stipend
paid him was only £60 — John Boyd and Robt. Carghead were
elected elders — The manse at Prebbleton was built in 1868 —
Mr Campbell having accepted the headmastership of Christchurch
High School in 1872, the Canterbury Presbytery divided the charge,
settling Rev. Mr. Cree in Leeston and appointing Rev. J, D.
Ferguson to work up the Northern portion, (b) Rev. Jas Wilson
was ordained September 1st, 1875, stipend being £200 with manse,
and resigned October 12tb, 1876. (c) Rev. R. Wad dell, M.A.,
licentiate of Irish Presbyterian Church (now Dr. Waddell, Dunedin,
and editor of the Outlook) was ordained and inducted September 25th,
1877 — Subscriptions for a new church were set on foot — He accepted
a call to St. Andrew's, Dunedin, March 13th, 1879. (d) Rev. A.
Blake, M.A., late of Otago, was inducted July 1st, 1879 — A
35G HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
handsome church was built at Lincoln in 1882, which cost £900
Mr. Blake resigned January IGth, 1883. (c) Rev. R. J. Porter,
from Ireland, was ordained and inducted May 23rd, 1S83, and
was translated to Mornington, Dunedin, July 26th, 188G, leaving
a united charge. (/") Rev. H. Adamson, student from Ireland,
licensed by the Nelson Presbytery, was ordained and inducted May
10th, 1887 — The manse at Lincoln was erected in 1889 and cost
£550— Mr. Adamson resigned through ill health on September 9th,
1891. (g) Rev. A. M. Wright, M.A., recently of Palmerston
North, was inducted February 9th, 1892 — The church at Prebbleton,
which was added to in 1873, was renovated in 1895— E., 3; M., 105;
stipend, £250; average total revenue for last six years, £409 per
annum.
(8) LEESTON AND BROOKSIDE.
A Sabbath School was started in 1865 at Brookside, when district
was a part of Lincoln and Prebbleton charge, by Messrs. J. Stewart
and J. Cunningham, and at Leeston in 1866 by Mr. and Mrs. John
IMuirison — Services were held at Leeston by Rev. J. Campbell in a
sod whare of Mr. J. Low, and then in Road Board office — The
church at Brookside was built in 1867 on a site given by Mr. John
Cunningham, at a cost of £152 — The first church at Leeston was
built in 1870 on a site given by Mr. David Marshall at a cost of
£196— A Sabbath School was started at Killinchy in 1870 by Mr.
and Mrs. W. Nixon, and at Dunsandel in 1872 by Mr. Pole.
Leeston was disjoined from Lincoln and Prebbleton and erecte(j
into a separate charge in the beginning of 1872. (a) Rev. J. W.
Cree from En^^land was inducted February 28th, 1872, stipend £300
— Services were held at Leeston, Southbridge, Brookside, Dunsaudel,
and Killinchy — An addition to the church at Brookside was made in
1873 : cost £205— The manse at Leeston, costing £475, was erected
in 1873— The present church at Leeston was built in 1879; cost
£930— The schoolroom at Leeston was built in 1884 ; cost £200—
Southbridge was disjoined in January 1882 — Mr. Cree's connection
with the ministry terminated December 31at, 1890, he retiring to
a farm at Rangitata— M., 218. (b) Rev. W. Grant, of New
Plymouth, was inducted June Uth, 1891. — Mr. Grant is Convener
of the Committee on Foreign Missions— E., 7 ; M., 236 ; stipend,
£350 ; total revenue, £664 I63 9d.
CHRISTCHUECH PEESBYTERY. 357
(9) SEFTON.
Eev. W. Hogg of Amuri, who arrived in January 1864,
officiated at Grey Downs, Ashley Bank, and Leithfield, living
first at Kaiapoi, and then in a manse of cob built for
him near Sefton, in 1866. Services were begun by him in
Loburn in 1870— A church was built at Ashley in 1872, the
trustees being Eev. W. Hogg, James Anderson, and David Carr.
(a) Eev. W. H. Horner from Ireland was inducted June 11th, 1873
—A church was erected at Sefton in December 1873— Mr. Horner
resigned early in 1877, and accepted call to Papanui March, 1878.
(6) Eev. Jos. McIntosh, late of Greymouth, was inducted June 14th,
1877, the stipend bemg £275, and resigned July 10th, 1870. (c) Eev.
EiCHARD Tout, after supplying as student for some time, was ordained
and inducted September 10th, 1883— Fortnightly services were begun
in Lobuin schoolroom in 1883, and a church erected there, on |-acre
given by the Carmichael family, and costing £193, was opened on
October 26th, 1890— A manse was built at Sefton in 1894 which cost
£300— Mr. Tout retired to a farm in the North Island, March 12th,
1895— Loburn was now transferred to Eangiora. (d) Eev. E.
McCuLLY, was ordained and inducted August 27th, 1896— Mr. McCully
accepted a call to Eiverton May 10th, 1898. (e) Eev. D. A.
Anderson of Totara Flat was inducted on January 12th, 1899— E.,
3 ; M., 52 ; stipend £165.
(10) ASHBURTON.
(a) Eev. H. B. Burnett from Ireland was inducted September
15th, 1875, stipend £250— He had the whole county for his charge,
and preached in Wakanui, Springburn, Mt. Somers, Longbeach,
Mayfield— A manse and 10 acres of land were secured and a church
built in 1876— A session was formed in 1877— Mr. Burnett resigned
March 13th, 1879— M., 45 ; Adherents, 400. (b) Eev. A. M. Beattie,
late of English Presbyterian Church, was inducted August 26th,
1879— He assisted in organising Eakaia, Methven, and Tinwald and
Flemington, where a church was built in 1880— Leave of Presbtery
was given in 1891 to reduce stipend from £300 to £250— Mr
Beattie resigned April 5th, 1893— M., 128. (c) Eev. G. B. Inglis,
of Warepa, Otago, was inducted September 27th, 1893— E., 3 ; M.
123 ; families, 96 ; stipend, £250 ; total revenue, £453.
358 HISTOllY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
(11) OUST AND OXFORD.
Originally supplied with ordinances by ministers of Kaiapoi and
Ranf^iora — A meeting to organise a charge on August 2nd, 1873.
(a) Rev. N. McCallum, late of Patea, was inducted April 5th, 1877 —
Services at Oxford, Cust, West Eyreton, Carleton, Stoke, Summer-
hill, and View Hill — Oxford section first met in Road Board office,
where a Sabbath School was organised by Mr. J. Ingram, and then
for years in the Town Hall : the Cust section met in public school,
and then in the Institute Hall — A Session was formed December
12th, 1880, Messrs. McClinton and Webster being members — Mr.
Luke Higgins, a distinguished pioneer of the district, though
standing out of Session till 1890, did much for minister and
congregation — The Oxford Church was built in 1880 on a site gifted
by H. B. Johnstone ; cost £300, Miss Dods and Mr. McCallum
collecting most of the money — The manse at Cust, costing £300, was
built in 1882 ; the church at Cust being built by public subscriptions
collected by Mr. Hunter and his co-workers, including the minister,
and by gratuitous labour, only cost £250, and was opened on December
13th, 1885— Mr. McCallum resigned March 9th, 1886, going on a
trip to Old Country. {}>) Rev. P. R. Monro, late of Westport, was
inducted August 10th, 1886— Church at Cust enlarged, and members
increased to 40— He was translated to Sydenham August 11th, 1887.
((•) Rev. D. D. Rodger, of Lower Hutt, was inducted May 17th, 1888,
and accepted call to Waikari May 10th, 1898. (d) Rev. F. Stdbbs
of Feilding was inducted on October 27th, 1898— E., 3 ; M., 108;
stipend, £200 ; total revenue, £283 9s 8d.
(12) PAPANUI AND BELFAST.
Services were supplied in 1877 by Rev. W. H. Horner, late of
Sefton, in a tasteful church recently erected, (a) Rev. W. H.
Horner was inducted March 14th, 1878 — He resigned July 14th,
1881. {!)) Rev, F. M. Hauxwell, of Malvern, inducted January
1882 — He resigned to visit the Old Country September 8th, 1885 —
Belfast attached to Kaiapoi and Papanui to North Belt in 1886—
Elders were elected in 1891 — Belfast disjoined from Kaiapoi, and
Papanui from North Belt, and Belfast, Papanui, and New Brighton
were formed into a regular charge on May 10th, 1898. (c) Rev. J. M.
Simpson, B.A., late of Sydenham, was inducted July 28th 1898 —
E., 2; M., 27.
CHKISTCHUKCH PEESBYTEKY. 359
(13) MALVERN.
(a) Eev. J. F. Hauxwell, from Scotland, was ordained December
23rd, 1878, Malvern having waited long for a permanent pastor — He
was translated to Papanui in January 1882. {b) Rev. Jas. Maxwell,
late Congregational minister of Port Chalmers, was inducted October
17th, 1882 — Leave was given by Presbytery to reduce stipend for a
time from £250 to £200— Churches were built at Greendale and
Hororata in 1892— Mr. Maxwell got permission to visit the Old
Country in March 1898— E., 3; Mgrs., 12 ; M., 86 ; stipend, £210 ;
total revenue, £221 15s 7d.
(14) RAKAIA.
Originally part of the Ashburton charge with occasional
services— a manse and five acres of land purchased on 10th October,
1879, cost with land £-175, a large debt remaining, (a) Rev. J. B.
Westbkooke, late of the Primitive Methodist Church, was inducted
March 18th, 1880— Services held in a public hall— He left for
Greymouth in September 1882— Charge vacant for a few years,
during which it was ministered to by Rev. W. West of Southbridge —
In March 1885 Mr. E. Stewart, student evangelist, supplied, who
cleared off £200 debt, and left for Woodville in April 1888— It was
re-erected into a separate charge, promising £200 and manse. May
9th, 1888— M., 36. (b) Rev. P. J. Riddle, of Waiuku, inducted
August 22nd, 1888— A revival of religion in 1890— A debt of £100
cleared off in 1891 A church built in Eakaia in 1892, cost £400 ;
and a Sunday School in 1896, cost £100— E., 6 ; M., 110 ; famiUes,
60 ; stipend, £200 ; total revenue, £277.
(15) HALKETT AND KIMBERLEY.
A church was built at Halkett in 1873, cost £150— Services
were supplied by Revs. Ewing, Murray, and Cumming, and Messrs.
Taylor and Munro, students— A manse and five acres of ground were
bought for £250 at end of 1879. (a) Rev. H. B. Burnett, late of
Ashburton, was inducted March 23rd, 1880, and accepted call to
Westport February 21st, 1887— Church Extension Committee
appointed Mr. Cowie, student, who left April 1888, and Rev. N.
McCallum officiated for nine years from April 15th, 1888, to April
15th, 1897— Re-erected into an independent charge with Hornby,
3G0 HlSTOlvY Ui-' N.Z. rilESliYTElllAN CHUllCH.
May lOUi, 1B'.)8. (h) Hkv. W. Finlayhon, fonnoily of Springburn,
iiuluotod AiigUHt HOlh, 1898— E., i; M., 70; stipend, £155; families,
65 ; tutal rovcnuo, £170 and Church Extension grants.
(16) SYDENHAM, CHRISTCHURCH.
A Sabbath Soliool was orf^aiiised by D. Duncan, Esq., older of
St. Paul'a, in 1878 —Formed into a separate charge March i:uh,
1879 — Services wore hold for six months in tho borough soliool by
Mr. A. Alexander, and afterwards by Ilov. .T. D. Ferguson, (d) Hkv.
T. II. Caiunh, formerly of Moy, and then of 13allina, Ireland, was
inducted March 2.5tli, 1880, in St. Saviour's Schoolroom, kindly
granted for tho oooasiou, the officiating clorgymen being Revs. H. B.
Burnett, J. Hill, W, H. Horner, and ,1. Elmnlio, and tho stipend
X'lOO A .site was ohoaon for a church on March Ith, 1880; the
foundation stono laid on July 17th, 1880, by John Anderson, Esq.;
and tho present church capable of holding 500 opened in Colombo
street on December 2()th, 1880, by Revs. Cairns, Hill, and Gordon ;
tho site cost £500 and the odifioo £2H00-In May Messrw. A, Lusk,
W. K. Allison, and Robertson, elders of St. Paul's, wore appointed
an interim session, and Lord's Supper was dispensed in Juno, M.
being 86 — Mr. Cairns accepted a call to Ballarat March 9th, 1887 —
M., 184. {b) Ricv. P. R. Monro, late of Oxford and Oust, was
inducted August 11th, 1887, and translated to Rangiora March 25th,
iHStl. ((•) Hkv. J. M. Simpson, B.A., a student from Ireland, and licon-
tiato of the Wellington Presbytery, was ordained July 30th, 1891, and
resigned to visit Ireland March 12th, 1896. {d) Rev. R. S. Allan
was ordained October 10th, 1895— E., 6; M., 140; stipend £200;
total revenue, £457 IBs 3d.
(17) NORTH BELT. CHRISTCHURCH.
A Sabbath School was established by " St. Paul's Sabbath
School Association," Mr John Cameron, Suporintondont, on Novem-
ber 19th 1876, in Montreal street Hall, (a) North Belt was now
fortunate In scouring at tho beginning of its career the services of
the Rev. David McKke lately arrived from Ireland. The history
of this great and good man who suddenly ended his days in New
Zealand requires more than a passing notice. A sou of the manse,
CHRISTCHURCH PRESBYTERY.
361
he was educated for the ministry at Belfast, and when licensed was
selected by his fellow-students as their missionary in Boyle, County
Sligo. After earning a good reputation among all denominations at
Boyle he was translated to
Ballywalter, where he soon
made a home for himself in
the hearts of the farmers and
fishermen of that seaport
town. Here the people of
the important congregation
of Rutland Square, Dublin,
sought him out and called
him to occupy the pulpit
vacated by the Rev. Dr. John
Hall of New York. In the
capital he preached with his
usual passion, imagination,
and prophetic insight. His
sermons seemed like "visions,"
and his unselfishness, gentle-
ness, and modesty cast a spell
over everything he said. Un-
fortunately his work in Dublin
proved too much for his deli-
cate frame. A weakness of
chest developing itself in the
summer of 1879, his physi-
cians advised him as his only
hope to emigrate to New
Zealand. He left behind him a sorrowing people, and carried to this
country splendid credentials, his co-presbyters wishing this Church to
understand, as one of them put it, that they were sending out to New
Zealand " the strongest and noblest man they had." He arrived in
the "Pleiades" at Lyttelton in January 1880, and, his health being
apparently fully restored, he commenced work under favourable
auspices at Christchurch. A hearty call, signed by forty-four
members and forty adherents of this new congregation, was given to
him, and a stipend of £500 promised. He was inducted in the
Oddfellows' Hall on April 8th 1880, and at once began, with his usual
success, to preach, organize, and visit from house to house. A site
REV. DAVID UcKEE.
362 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTEEIAN CHURCH.
for a church was acquired on the North Belt, and the erection of a
building capable of holding 500 people was commenced. Mr. MoKee
died suddenly, in the midst of his usefulness, on October 18th 1880,
leaving behind him a widow and nine children to the care of his
adopted country. His death came as a shock to a wide circle of
friends. Everywhere he was located Mr. McKee kept open house.
His private acts of kindness will never be known on earth. He could
not carry money for long in his pocket, or wear an overcoat for any
considerable period on his back. Some needy one would be sure to
have them. It was said of him, " He would give away his head if
you'd let him." It was characteristic of him that when riding
through Palestine once he took the bit out of the horse's mouth to
give him more comfort and liberty, and got thrown for his pains.
And yet with the sympathetic and lamb-like spirit he combined a lion-
heart, these two qualities fraternising in his character as an earnest
of millennial times.
The following extract is taken from the Presbyterial minute
passed on the occasion of his death : —
"... During the short period of his residence in Canterbury
Mr. McKee had endeared himself to a singularly large circle of friends.
His decided talents, his genial disposition, and his unassuming piety
were such as to give promise of great usefulness and marked honour
to the Presbyterian Church. The suavity of his private intercourse
and his eminent pulpit ability had already surrounded him with a
large, intelligent, and influential congregation and an able staff of
ofijce-bearers. The appearance of Mr. McKee in the Presbytery was
always marked by a lively interest in the aiYairs of the Church, and
an unusual appreciation of the peculiar circumstances of a Colonial
Presbytery constantly enlarging its borders, receiving Church members
from all quarters, and yet labouring to maintain the wonted orderli-
ness and scriptural authority of presbyterial rule. The Presbytery
will miss his sagacious counsel and hearty sympathy," &G.
(b) Rev. W. Dinwiddie was inducted February Ist, 1883, and
translated to St. Andrew's, Christchurch, September 2.5th, 1883.
(c) Rev. R. Euwin, M.A., a student from Ireland, and licentiate
of the Auckland Presbytery, was ordained and inducted in November
1883— The present church was erected 1880, the cost being £1100 ;
a spacious class room was opened free of debt in August 1885, cost
CHRISTCHURCH PEESBYTERY. 363
£530 — Papanui attached in 1886. During the last 21 years the
Sabbath School has raised for foreign missions the sum of £334 10s,
the contributions of Bible Classes and Sabbath School being last
year £49— Mr Erwin, when Moderator of Assembly in 1897 was
honoured by the Assembly's College, Belfast, Ireland, with the degree
of D.D.— E., 7 ; M., 182 ; stipend, £400 ; total revenue, £708 2s 6d.
(18) ST. PETER'S, CHRISTCHURCH.
(a) Captain A. Sproul, of Lyttelton, having given a site on
Ferry road for a new church, and Rev. S. Slocombe, a Congrega-
tional minister, having, with his entire congregation, come over
from another denomination and been received by the Presbyterian
Church of New Zealand, Mr. Slocombe was inducted May 26th,
1881 — A new church was opened on January 22nd 1882, church and
manse costing £1550 — The new two-storied manse being burnt, a
one-storied manse was built — Mr. Slocombe resigned September
9th, 1884— Communicants, 59. (b) Rev. H. Ikwin, B.A., late of
Crossroads, Ireland, was inducted October 11th, 1886 ; a minimum
stipend of £200 being raised by aid of £50 from Irish Presbyterian
Church, and £30 from the Church Extension Committee— A
special blessing was received in the city revival of 1887 — Mr. Irwin
was appointed Clerk of Presbytery on September 11th, 1889 — He
died August 20th, 1893— M., 89. (c) Rev. W. Scorgie, late of
Tapanui, Otago, was inducted January 18th, 1894 — In 1895 a com-
modious Sunday School hall was erected, cost £200, the number of
children on the roll being 250 — He was translated to Mornington,
Dunedin, January 10th, 1899— E., 6; M., 104; families, 50 ; stipend,
£200; total revenue, £300.
(19) SOUTHBRIDGE.
A part of Prebbleton and Lincoln charge when a church was
opened in 1870, then of Leeston charge, but erected into a separate
charge in January 1882— stipend, £203 ; M., 80. (a) Rev. W. West,
of Kumara, was inducted on September 21st, 1882 — The manse
and eight acres of land were bought for £600 in 1882— Church
enlarged in 1883, cost £400 — a spiritual awakening in 1886, chiefly
364 HISTOKY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
among the older people, and 1891, chiefly amonp: the younger portion
of congregation— Mr. West died June 24th, 1894— M., 197. {h) Rev.
J. Mackie, late of Whangarei, was inducted January 31st, 1895,
stipend £230— The charge has suffered severely from the hand of
death and a fluctuating population during last four years— E., 5;
M., 150; stipend, £230; families, 48; total revenue, £318 14s 4d.
(20) SPRINGBURN.
The first services in the district were held at Mt. Somers by Rev.
H. B. Burnett, of Ashburton, in 1874— Springburn, Methven, Rangi-
tata, Alford Forest, and Mt. Somers, formed into a separate charge in
1883. (a) Rev. A. McLennan was ordained at Alford Forest on April
1st, 1883, and translated to Tauranga April 14th, 1885— Stipend, £250.
(b) Rev. D. McNeil was ordained on May 25th, 1885, and resigned
March 23rd, 1887. (c) Rev. W. Finlayson was inducted March 30th,
1888— A manse at Springburn was built in 1889; cost, £390— Mr
Finlayson resigned March 11th, 1891. (d) Rev. B. J. Westbrooke,
of Greymouth, was inducted July 5th, 1892 — No church in this charge
— E.,2; M., 71 ; stipend, £165; total revenue, £200.
(21) FLEMIN6T0N AND TINWALD.
Services were conducted for some time at Ashton and Longbcach
by ministers of Ashburton. (a) Rev. A. Blake, M. A. , late of Lincoln
and Prebbleton, was inducted June 3rd, 1884, stipend being £225,
and M., 30 — Mr. Blake resided at Tinwald in a house of his own —
The church at Tinwald was built in 1885, and atFlemington in 1888,
both being opened free of debt — Services at Tinwald in the morning,
at Flemington in the afternoon, and at Longbeach in the evening —
50 M. added to the roll during his ministry— The late Rev. Mr. West
reported to Presbytery a special time of grace in congregation —
Mr. Blake resigned March 14th, 1894— Manse erected at Flemington
at end of 1894. (h) Rev. J. Skinneu, M.A., of Waitahuna, Otago,
was inducted January 9th, 1895, stipend, £200 — Old and new stations
are judiciously and energetically worked by him— E., 5 ; Mgrs., 26;
M., 128 ; stipend, £200 ; income, £253.
CHRISTCHURCH PEESBYTEEY. 365
(22) RANGIORA.
A church was built in 1872, when congregation was joined to
Kaiapoi — Disjoined from Kaiapoi April 8th, 1880. (a) Eev. Jas.
Mackellak, just licensed, was ordained and inducted on November
2nd, 1885, stipend, £250 ; and resigned August 8th, 1887. (h) Rev.
J. B. Shellie, late of Free Church, Dunfermline, was inducted July
5th, 1888— The manse was built in 1888, cost £415— Mr. Smellie
accepted call to Wyndham, Southland, January 14th, 1891 ; M., 76.
(c) Rev. p. R. Monro, recently of Sydenham, was inducted March
25th, 1891— Loburn was attached in 1895— He resigned December
17th, 1896. (d) Rev. A. Doull, M.A.,was ordained and inducted on
May 27th, 1897— E., 5 ; M., 110 ; families, 102 ; stipend, £204 ;
total revenue, £385 17s 6d, including £155 Building Society shares
realised to pay off debt on manse.
(23) WAIKARI.
The pioneers of this congregation are Messrs. Olson, Armstrong,
McLean, Johnston, Robertson, and James and Alexander Cowie, of
Mason's Flat, who met together and applied for services to Rev. C.
Fraser— The first service held in schoolhousc was in 1879— In 1884
Mr. W. Grant, now of Leeston, supplied for six months— Mr. G. H.
Moore having given a site, a subscription list was sent out in Mr.
Grant's time, and a new church opened in 1885, when Rev. J.
Mackellar was supplying ; cost, £250. (a) Rev. Jas. Mackellar, late
of Rangiora, was inducted on November 5th, 1889— A manse was
erected— He resigned October 7lh, 1891— The congregation being
able to offer only a small stipend, Mr. Guy and Rev. C. Connor
supplied— Rev. J. K. Stowell on July 9th, 1895, was appointed for
12 months, and Mr. Bates, student, on January 12th, 1897, for a
similar period. (b) Rev. D. D. Rodger, of Oxford and Cust,
accepted a call to Waikari on May 10th, 1898, being long waited
for by the congregation— There is no debt— E., 2 ; M., 60 ; stipend,
£200.
36G HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
lY.— HAWKE'S BAY PRESBYTERY.
(Formed December 10th, 186S.)
(1) NAPIER.
A meeting of Presbyterians, with A. Alexander, an old settler, in
the chair, was held on January 9th 1858, when the first committee
was formed to organise a congregation — A five-acre lot was
purchased, and a committee formed to build a manse on October
9th of the same year, (a) Rev. P. Barclay, late of Aberdeen,
arrived on June 6th 1859 — He preached once each Sabbath day
in the schoolroom at Napier and once at Clive in the afternoon —
A church was opened on June 16th 1861 — Mr. Barclay, who did
much for Church Extension, was Moderator of Assembly when it
met at Dunedin in November 1865 — He resigned the following year.
(b) Rev. George Morice was inducted on December 21st, 1866,
and not being robust in health left for a visit to Scotland in
January 1872, and returning was inducted at Hokitika on November
2nd, 1876. (c) Rev. David Sidey, formerly a U.P. minister in
West Calder, Scotland, was inducted in February 1872 — In 1874
Members 101; stipend, £250— In 1876 revenue £1298— He was
Moderator of Assembly in 1879 — Owing to weak health he resigned
the active duties of the pastorate of St. Paul's, and became senior
minister in 1883 — Members, 155; stipend, £350— Dr. Sidey is now
and has been for many years the efficient and much respected Clerk
of the Assembly and Convener of the " Board of Examiners." {d)
Rev. J. G. Paterson, late of Invercargill, was inducted on January
6th 1884 — The church was enlarged in 1886 — the manse was
purchased in 1872 at a cost of £800 — Mr. Paterson was translated
to Gisborne on June 12th, 1898, where he has healed division and
where his ministry gives promise of being as successful as at Napier.
(<■) Rev. J. A. Asher, M.A., of Gore, Otago, was inducted on
January 18th, 1899— E., 10 ; M., 340; stipend, £300 to Mr. Asher
and £50 to Dr. Sidey: revenue, £994 lis 6d. Fuller information
about the early history of Napier will be found elsewhere.
HAWKE'S BAY PRESBYTERY. 3G7
(2) PORT AHURTRI AND MEANEE.
As early as 1863 Rev. P. Barclay, of Napier, under whose
superintendence it was, sought to obtain a minister for Meanee.
(a) Rev. John McMichael, from Ireland, arrived in April 1865 —
Disastrous floods in 1867 interfered with his labours — He resigned
on August 4th, 1868, and left for Victoria, (b) Rev. W. McGregor
was inducted on September 17th, 1871, and was translated to
Kaiapoi in 1872— Rev. Mr. Sidey, of Napier, supplied services for a
time— Under his superintendence Meanee, Port Ahuriri, and Petane
were soon afterwards joined together, and placed under the care of
student missionaries — In 1873 the Free Church, not finding a
minister, sent out Mr. P. J. Riddle, a missionary recommended by Rev.
P. Barclay, who undertook to raise £50 for two years towards his
salary here. He was followed at the end of 1876 by Mr. John
Stewart, another missionary, by Mr. D. Rodger, student, and others,
(c) Rev. S. Douglas, of Waipawa, was inducted on July 18th 1889,
and was drowned in a flood on December 5th, 1893— Mr. Robert
McCully, a student, supplied during the vacancy, receiving a purse o^
sovereigns on his resuming bis studies at Dunedin. (d) Rev. C.
Connor, formerly minister of U.P. Church, Aberdeenshire, and
recently supply of Waikari, was inducted on May 5th 1895— A new
church, set on foot in Mr. Douglas's time, was opened free of debt on
June 21st, 1896 ; cost, £500— The original church, which once
served for a sanctuary as well as a public school, now serves for a
church hall— The manse at Taradale, owing to its inconvenient
position, has been abandoned by the minister for a house rented in
theport— E., 4; M., 112; stipend, £132 and £20 as Church Exten-
sion grant ; revenue, £219 15s lid.
(3) WAIPUKURAU.
This charge for some time included Waipawa. (a) Rev. Alex.
Shepherd, M.A., a licentiate of the Free Church of Scotland, was
ordained in St. Paul's, Napier, on December 10th 1865— A church
at Waipukurau was erected in 1867— Mr. Shepherd was translated to
Havelock on June 13th 1869— A vacancy of six years and seven
months followed, at the end of which] time the Church Extension
Committee made a grant of £50 towards stipend, and the Scottish
Free and Established Churches one of £75 each for a Manse
3G8 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Building Fund, (b) Rev. Robt. Fraseb, M.A., late of Free Church
Knockando, Scotland, was inducted in Waipukurau schoolroom on
February 9th 1876, a student being associated with him in the
work — Owing to increased population and the intersection of two
large rivers this large charge was divided on October 15th 1877 — a
new church was erected in 1878 on a site given by Henry Russell,
Esq. — A manse was erected in 1880— Mr, R. Fraser left for Queens-
land on April 20th, 1881. (c) Rev. W. Sherriffs, of Blenheim,
was inducted on July 6th, 1881, and died in November, 1883, the
Assembly sending a resolution of sympathy to Mrs. Sherriffs, the
wife of one " who for many years served the Church so faithfully
and devotedly both as pastor and Clerk of Assembly." (d) Rev.
Alex. Grant, late of Free Church, North Ronaldshay, Orkney,
was inducted in March 1884— A new church was opened at
Wanstead on January 1888, at Tamurau on May 1889, at Takapau
on February 1892, and a Sunday School hall on March 20th, 1898 ;
cost, £260— E., 3 ; M., 62 ; stipend, £230 ; revenue, £305.
(4) HAYELOCK.
In 1866 the Church Extension Committee thought a Gaelic
speaking minister should be placed here, but no minister was settled for
years, (a) Rev. Alex, Shepherd, M.A., of Waipukurau, was
inducted on June 13th 1869— A church was built in 1871, and
remitted his charge at the end of 1880. (6) Rev. W. Nichol, of Wairoa,
was inducted on January 6th, 1881, and resigned in January 1887.
(c) Rev. Robert Eraser, M.A., late of Waipukurau and recently of
Warwick, Queensland, was inducted on October 26th, 1887 — A new
church was opened on July 22ud 1894, by Rev. James Paterson,
Wellington, £150 being subscribed on the opening day — Mr Fraser
resigned on March 31st, 1897. (d) Rev. Alex. Whyte, M.A., B.D.,
B.Sc, formerly of Kilwindie U.P. Church, Glasgow, was inducted on
June 7th, 1898— E., 2 ; M., 80 ; stipend, £200 ; revenue, £359.
(5) GISBORNE.
The town is at the mouth of the Turanganui River, close to the
spot where Captain Cook first landed in 1776, and not far from the
scene of the Poverty Bay massacre of November 9th 1868. A church
HAWKE'S BAY PRESBYTERY. 369
planted in Metawhero in May 1872, by Rev. G. Morice, of Napier,
was the only church which escaped the ravages of this time, (a) W.
H. Root, of the English Presbyterian Church, arrived on February
26th 1873— Services were held first in the schoolhouse and then in
the Courthouse — A church, built of kauri in Gothic style, was opened
in Childer's street on October 25th 1874, by Revs. D. Bruce and D.
Sidey ; cost, £400 —The manse was built in 1876 ; cost, £.555— The
church was added to in July 1878— Mr. Root left for Greymouth
on August 13th 1878. (b) Rev. John McAra, late of Balclutha,
Otago, was inducted on May 14th 1879, and died on January 26th
1890, from the effects of a buggy accident, his loss being greatly
lamented as that of a genial and faithful pastor, (c) Rev. R. M,
Rybukn, M.A., was ordained on October 19th, 1890— The charge
being much scattered was now divided by the Presbytery — Mr.
Ryburn was translated to Wanganui in September 1897. (rf) Rev.
James Paterson, late of Napier, was inducted on June 12th, 1898 —
E., 6 ; M., 200 ; stipend, £250 ; revenue, £336 19s.
(6) WAIROA.
Situated in the midst of the Maoris of the Hau-hau tribes, this
district figured in the Maori War, and was for a long time in an unsettled
state. In 1868 Rev. G. Morice, of Napier, began to visit, regularly
making a hazardous journey of 70 miles every month with five
Sabbaths. The late Dr. Boyd continued services till 1876. (a) Rev,
W. NicHOL was ordained by the Presbytery to Wairoa on June 4th,
1878— In 1878 a church costing £500 was built— Mr. Nichol was raised
to full ministerial status by the Assembly of 1880— Services were held at
Frasertown, and at Mohaka a church was erected— He left for Havelock
in January 1881. {h) Rev. P. J. Riddle, of Picton, was inducted
on January 19th, 1881— A house and IJ acres of ground bought
and improved for a manse at a cost of £430 — Mr. Riddle was trans-
lated to Waiuku April 25th 1884— Mr. Mackellar, a student, supplied
from August 25th, 1884, to May 15th, 1885. (c) Rev. W. Raeburn,
who followed Mr. Mackellar as a student, was licensed and ordained
on August 29th, 1888, at meeting of Presbytery, owing to difficulty
of reaching Wairoa, and inducted by Rev. J. G. Paterson through
Commission on November 12th, 1888— A Sabbath School, independent
of other denominations was established in 1887— M., 98; stipend,
£200; revenue, £250.
370 fflSTOBY OF X.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Cn WilPAWA.
This district fonned part of the Wupabnao charge, but was
ffiqained oo October 15th 1877. (a) Rbt. J. M. Fbascb was indoeted
in the new ehmeh al Kaikiam on October l-Sth 1877. and left in
Ifaieh 1878 itar CoromandeL (fr) Ma. J. U. Sfdbcb, a stodent
evangelist, was ^ant^^afaJ with the minlgjwr of Waipakofan. He was
ocdained a misaianaiy on Febmaiy 8di 1878, raised to foil minisle-
iial statms by the Assembly of 1380. and translated to Clinton, Otago.
on Koreniber lOUi 1880. (e) Ma. W. O. Bobs, a student evangelist,
fdcmerly of Ireland, and late of Qoeensland, hegm work in the
iwyiiiiTi^ o< 1831, was ordained in Kaikora on IKovember 3rd, 1881,
and resigned on June 21st, 1883. (d) Bsr. S. I>cnit0i.»s was
ordained on October i6th, ISSa— The ehoreh at Waipawa, costing
£350. was built in 1883, and opoied on MaiehSth 183i— The manse
and two wm^iw^ of land were porehased for £500 m 1878 — Mr.
Doi^^ resigned on Jane 30di, 1886, going to Scotland. («) Bxr.
IbpKKair McLe&s, MA., aprobatioDer of F.C., Scotland, was cndained
on Jane 7011887, and resigned cm March Slat 1889. f/> Bsr. H. W.
Jomraiaaa, M.A., was ordained on May 14th, 1839— B.. 4 ; M., 69 ;
stipend, £134 and £20 Ghareh KTrtnminn ; rerenae, £160.
{%} S0OD¥1jLL£.
WoodriDe and Darmerirke, tiHmerly one charge, were di^ded
in 1888, Mr. B. Stewart, a student, remajniog in charge of tibe fiwmer
preaehii^ station- (a) Rmr. B. Stzwabt, who came as a stodent in
1888, and was liii— ««»«» in April, 1390. was ordained and inducted on
Hovembtf S6th, 1890, and aft» building up this congregation was
translated to Greymouth in 8^temb», 1893. (6) Bev. T. Walls,
M \ , of the Cboreh of Scotland, was inducted in 1393. and on
rooming to the Old Country, resigned on October 33id, 1394 — ^B., 5 ;
M^ 40 : stipend, £300. (e) Bet. H. Lewis, a Congregationaliat
mmiai— ■ receiTed by the Assembly, was inducted in 1896.
^9; HASTINGS AND CLIYE.
This district was niginal'.j s j:-:; :' H .•
r, Ber. W. Nielu^ be..
Befaool::-' .-._-.. .v..
HAWKES BAY PRESBYTERY. 371
opened on February 11th 1883, by Rev. D. Sidey, of Napier, and
costing £500 — Revs. Nichol, Shepherd, and Fraser all officiated here
— In 1897 a manse was erected on a site of 2 acres — Student
evangelists began to supply in February 1886 — Amongst them were
ilr. J. Lymburn, three years and eight months, being inducted
at Waihenga on October 3rd 1889 ; Mr. J. Cowie, a licentiate, one
year ; Mr. A. S. Morrison, M.A., one year and six months beginning
October 1890; Mr. S. S. Osborne, two years, during which, or in 1893,
a church, costing with site £300, was built at Clive. (a) Rev. A. S.
MoRBisoN was ordained and inducted on May 18th, 1894 — In the
same year, on November oth, a Session was formed, and in June the
Hastings Church was enlarged by the addition of a side aisle, raising
the seating accommodation to 230 — Mr. Morrison was translated to
Waimate on January 31st 1899— E., 6; M., 134; stipend, £150 and
£25 Church Extension ; revenue, £242.
372 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Y.— NELSON PRESBYTERY
(Formed January 13th, 1869).
(1) NELSON.
(a) Rev. T. D. Nicholson, formerly of Lowick, England, who
was sent out by the Free Church on an engagement for three years
at £300 per year, preached bis first sermon in Campbell's schoolroom
on June 18th 1848— The first church, seating 350 persons, was
opened on December 23rd 1849. It was to be of brick, but owing to
the earthquakes of 1848, the promoters built it of wood. The first
Trustees were Messrs. D. Sclanders, T. Renwick, M.D., W. Rogerson,
W. Wilkie, W. Gardiner, J. Mackay, G. McRae, R. D. Mclsaac, A.
Rankin, and Rev. T. D. Nicholson— The latter in August 1857 left
for Renwick, Blenheim, where the first minister of the Presbyterian
Church of New Zealand in the South Island died on July IGth, 18G4.
(b) Rev. P. Calder, late of the Free Church, Belhelvie, Aberdeen-
shire, arrived at Nelson on October Gth, 1857 — A manse was soon
built — Mr. Calder was Moderator of Assembly when it met at Nelson
in November 18G7 — He resigned on December 3rd 1890, and died on
July 9th, 1892— A beautiful church seating 440 persons and costing
nearly £2000 was built in 1891 and opened on January 31.st, 1892 —
by Rev. James Paterson, through whose advice chiefly the work was
undertaken, and Rev. W. 0. Robb : The old church was transformed
into a hall : The entire cost was £2554. (c) Rev. J. H. Mackenzie,
of Lyttelton, was inducted on March 15th, 1892 — A new pipe
organ was obtained in 1895 — Mr. MacKenzie is Convener of the
Committee on " Sabbath School Teachers' Examination " and of the
"Committee on Standing Committees and Collections" — E., 3; M.,
101 ; stipend, £300 ; total revenue, £507 I83 3d.
(2) BLENHEIM.
(a) Rev. T. D. Nicholson, who began to visit the district in
1853, came from Nelson to reside at Renwick in August 1857,
officiating in Wairau Valley, Picton, and Awaterc— A church was
NELSON PKESBYTEEY. 373
erected at Eenwick in 1858, being the first ecclesiastical building
built in the Province of Marlborough — Mr. Nicholson died on July
16th, 1864. (h) Rev. A. Russell arrived in October 1864, and
occupied a manse which was ready for his reception — He took charge
of Picton, Haveloek, Awatere, Kaikoura, Clarence, &c. — A small
church was built at Picton — A church at Blenheim was opened by
him on May 24th 1868— A few days afterwards Mr. Russell suc-
cumbed to diphtheria — A vacancy of two years ensued, (c) Rev. W.
Shebkiffs, M.A., of Riwaka, was inducted on April 3rd, 1870 —
Churches were built at Awatere and Kaikoura — Mr. Sherriffs, who was
clerk of Assembly, an enthusiastic Temperance advocate in early
days, and an untiring church worker, was translated to Waipukurau
on March 31st, 1881— B., 2; M., 40; stipend, £200, (d) Rev.
W. 0. RoBB, late of Waipawa, was inducted on November 8th
1882 — The church was enlarged and a vestry added in 1883 —
In 1898 the church was set farther back and converted into
a Sunday School and Kcture hall, while a magnificent church,
seating 350 persons and costing nearly £2000, was erected on
the old site— This church, which is of Gothic architecture, with tall
spire, was opened by Rev. J. Paterson on October 28rd 1892— Mr.
Charles Fulton, one of the founders of the congregation, and for
seventeen years an elder and occasional pulpit supply, died on August
8th, 1895 — E., 4 ; M., 96 ; stipend, £250 ; total revenue,
£445 13s 6d.
(3) RIWAKA.
(a) Rev. John Campbell, a probationer of the Free Church,
sent out by Dr. Bonar, in answer to a blank call from Riwaka and
Moutere, arrived at the end of 1863, and was ordained in March
1864 by Revs. P. Calder and D. Bruce— A church was erected the
same year on a site given by Mr. Robt. Pattie, whose wife, Mrs.
Pattie, superintended the Sabbath School for 14 years— Mr. Campbell
was translated to Lincoln and Prebbleton on February 21st 1866— A
vacancy of two years ensued, (b) Rev. W. Sherriffs began work in
1868, Takaka being alho assigned to him, and was translated to
Blenheim ou A\ml 3rd 1870— Vacancy of seven years, during which
Mr. Calder, of Nelson, supplied services occasionally— In 1878 began
a long series of supplies sent by the Church Extension Committee,
including Mr. D. Rodger, student, three years ; Mr. S. Douglas,
M.A., sixteen months; Rev. John Sutherland, from Canada, six
374 HISTORY OF N.Z. PEESBYTEEIAN CHURCH.
months; Mr. Robt. Hopkirk, an elder of St. John's, Wellington,
nearly two years, leaving in January 1885 ; Mr. T. Norrie, student,
till March 1889; Rev. E. McClean, M.A.,late of Waipawa, one year;
Mr. John Cowie, M.A., a licentiate of the Free Church, 1890-93;
Revs. G. K. Stowell, late of Kumara, Alex. Mackenzie, M.A.,
and Robt. McClean, who returned from Europe— E., 1.; M., 12;
stipend, £50, and £20 Churoh Extension and £4 5s Presbytery Fund.
(4) PICTON.
The first committee, a building one, was formed in July 1865,
and consisted of Messrs. Campbell, Gray, Esson, sen., Henderson,
Mowat, McCormick, Hill, Baillie, and Allan. Messrs Jamieson,
Galloway, and Mowat subsequently did much to consolidate the
congregation — The first church, a mere shell, was opened soon
after by Rev. A. Russell, of Blenheim, who held service at
Picton once a month, (a) Rev. Alex. Chalmers Soutar began
work on June 29th 1868, and resigned on June 27th, 1869. {b)
Rev. John Bannatyne, formerly of the Lancashire Presbytery,
England, and late of Takaka, was inducted on November 13th,
1870, and left in June 1873 — A vacancy of four years ensued, during
which Rev. W. Sherriffs, of Blenheim, held a monthly week-night
service, (c) Rev. P. J. Riddle, late of Napier, was appointed by
the Church Extension Committee in January 1877, having been
previously ordained a missionary — A manse was bought for £275,
and the church enlarged in 1878 — Mr. Riddle was raised to full
ministerial status by the Assembly on March 17th 1880, and
removed to Wairoa at the end of the year, {d) Mb. G. K. Stowell
was appointed by the Church Extension Committee as student
evangelist in April 1881, was ordained and inducted on April 17th
1884, and resigned on August 18th 1887— M., 29. (f) Rev. R. J.
Allsworth, recently of Waverley, took charge on September 11th,
1887, only one Sabbath being vacant, and was inducted on June 25th
1888 — A more prominent site costing £1.50 was secured in Main
street, and a church costing £600 was opened there on November
13th, 1892— In 1893 the entire debt was wiped off — A Sunday
School hall was erected in 1895, the year in which Mr Allsworth
was Moderator of Assembly— Services are held in this Highland
NELSON PEESBYTERY. 375
parish by the indefatigable minister in nearly a dozen different
places— E., 2; M.,.50; stipend, £llo, and £34 10s Church Exten-
sion ; total revenue, £224.
(S) KAIKOURA.
Two town sections and 20 acres of land were secured at Kaikoura
for Church purposes by Rev. Mr. Sherriffs soon aftrr his stttlement
at Blenheim in 1870 — Mr. W. McAra, formerly a missionary of Wynd
Church, Glasgow, and a student of Glasgow University, arrived in
Blenheim as a student evangelist for Kaikoura at the end of October
1877. He found that Rev. Mr. Sherriffs had been visiting Kaikoura
three or four times a year, that the Presbyterians, who were not
numerous, worshipped with the Anglicans, and that even the Anglican
clergyman had to leave for want of support. Mr. George Rorrison, a
great friend of the Church subsequently, reported on the spot, "I have
been down to the village, and nobody wants you." — Mr. McAra's
first service was on the second Sunday of November 1877 — The
principal settler at this stage promised, if Mr. McAra remained, to
see to the erection of a manse and church — Mr. W. McAra, by the
arrangement of Assembly, was ordained as a missionary on January
9th 1878— A five-roomed cottage, costing £450, was erected in 1878,
Mr. Bullen advancing the money— A suburban church at Kohai was
built at a cost of £240, and opened free of debt in June 1879— A
church in the town, erected beside the manse and costing £500, was
opened on November 2nd of the same year— 1879 was begun with
debt of £800 owed to Mr. Bullen. (a) Rev. W. McAra was raised to
full ministerial status by the Assembly ou May 17th, 1880 — A session
was formed on November 28th, 1880, the members being Messrs.
Jamieson, G. Rorrison, and R. McDonald, and the Lord's Supper
dispensed to 41 communicants — Three rooms were added to the
manse in 1881 costing £140 — In 1891 the debt was reduced to £200
chiefly through the liberality of Messrs. Bullen and Rorrison— A
beautiful Sunday School of concrete, with a room for social gather-
ings, was erected in 1892 by Mr. G. F. Bullen at his own expense-
Messrs. G. F. and F. Bullen, brothers, who lent various large sums of
money for manse and church purposes, and would receive no pay-
ment, have been the chief founders and fosterers of this congregation
— E., 1 ; M., 84 ; stipend, £200 ; total revenue, £503 18s.
376 UISTORY OF N.Z. TRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
YL— TIMARU PRESBYTERY.
(Formed September 24th, 1873.)
(1) TIMARU.
The district was cursorily visited by Ecvs. C. Fraser and John
Thom. (a) Rev. Geo. Barclay was ordained and inducted March
8th, 186-5, at St. Paul's, Christchurch— Service was usually held in
Mechanics' Institute on Sabbath morning, and in the afterpart of
the day at Temuka, Geraldine, Pleasant Point, or Orari— A stone
church was opened July 7th, 18G7— A Session was formed July 8th,
1868— Mr. Barclay left for Temuka, Geraldine, &c., in January,
1872. (b) Rev. W. R. Campbell, a probationer of the Presbytery of
Edinburgh, Scotland, was ordained and inducted September 24th,
1873— He resigned and left for Amuri September 1874. (c) Rev. W.
Gillies, of West Taieri, was inducted April 21st, 1875— Members, 85
—Present church, costing £5000, was opened on October 15th, 1876,
and the manse, costing £2300, was built in 1879 — E., 15 ;
M., 368 ; stipend, £400 ; total revenue, £920 13s 3d.— Fuller informa-
tion about Timaru Church will be found elsewhere.
(2) WAIMATE.
An occasional service was given by Rev. G. Barclay, of Timaru,
Rev. A. B. Todd, Oamaru, and passing ministers — A Committee
formed in 1871 got supplies from Christchurch, and obtained the
services of Rev. Mr. Ewen for two years — A church was opened on
August 22nd, 1874, and the Lord's Supper dispensed to 35 members.
(a) Rev. Geo. Lindsay, licensed by the Timaru Presbytery, was
ordained and inducted February 5th, 1876 -A Session was formed at
the end of the year— A manse was erected in 1877 — Mr. Lindsay
accnpted a call to Otepopo on April 18th, 1882. (b) Ret. Jas. McKee,
of Masterton, was inducted on September 5th, 1882, the call being
TLMAKU PEESBYTERY. 377
signed by 51 members and 32 adherents— A Sunday School hall
was erected in 1892— Mr. McKee resigned August 16th, 1892, and
left for New South Wales, (c) Kev. H. Kelly, B.A., of Woodlands,
Southland, was inducted March 23rd, 1893— Waitaki was erected
into a separate charge on October 10th, 1896— Mr. Kelly, M.A.,
accepted a call to Knox Church, Auckland, in July, 1898—
(d) Rtv. A. S. MoBRiBON, M.A., of Hastings, was inducted in February,
1899— Services at Hook, Hannaton, Waihao Downs— E., 3; M., 169;
stipend, £250 ; total revenue, £352.
(3) TEMUKA.
Kev. G. Barclay, who was settled in Tiniaru on March 8th,
1865, held for many years fortnightly services at Temuka, first in
Georgestown school and then in Temuka school— a church was built
in 1871 Timaru was disjoined, and erected into a separate charge
in January 1872. (a) Rev. G. Barclay, of Timaru, was inducted on
January 21st, 1872. A session was formed in June 1873 which had
the superintendence of Temuka, Geraldine, &c. Geraldine and
Pleasant Point were erected into separate charges on May 1st, 1879.
(b) Rev. David Gordon, of Clinton, Otago, was inducted January
8th, 1880, stipend £300— 31a. 2r. 32p. of land bought from Mr
Holloway on March 8th, 1880, and 11a. 3r. 8p., costing £350, set
aside for a glebe— Contract for building manse on it let on June loth,
1880, cost to be £513 17s— Mr. Gordon accepted a call to Invercargill
on September 3rd 1884. (c) Rev. Eneas Mackintosh, a licentiate of
Otago and Southland, was ordained and inducted April 15th, 1885, the
call being signed by 51 members and 59 adherents— Through ill
health ho resigned on July 27th, 1886— Rev. E. D. Cecil a Congre-
gationalist, supplied for a time, (d) Rev. John Dickson, M.A., who
came to New Zealand on a holiday trip, and cabled home his
resignation of Ballycarry, Ireland, was inducted on September 7th,
1887— M., 90— Services at Waitohi f ortni;.:hlly— A debt of £200 cleared
ofl'— Pakihi attached to Temuka, July 3rd, 1894— A monthly service at
Waitobi, Rangitira Valley, Orton, and Seadown — More than £1000
has been subscribed for a new church about to be erected— E., 8:
M., 153 ; stipend, £250 ; total revenue, £350.
378 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
(i) GERALDINE.
This char^je was originally associated with Timaru, but Timaru
was disjoined in January 1872, when Rev. G. Barclay came to reside
at Geraldiue as minister of Temuka, Geraldine, &c. — A church was
built, on a site promised by Mr. (now Sir Thomas) Tancred, and
gifted by W. Postlethwaite, Esq. in 1872, and opened in February
1873— A manse costing £500 was erected in 1872-73 by the General
Committee, on a glebe of 33 acres given by Messrs. A. and W.
Macdouald — Geraldine, including Mackenzie Country, was erected into
a separate charge on May 1st, 1879. with («) Rev. G. Barclay as its
minister— A Session was formed the same year — Mr. Barclay
obtained a leave of six months to visit the Old Country to consult an
oculist in London — Permission was given on June 27th, 1887, by
the Presbytery to remove church and manse to the township — A
church at Woodbury was built, the minister gifting the bell, as he
did the bell at Geraldine Church. Mr. Barclay after 2-5 years of
service resigned on December 3rd, 1889 — Mackenzie Country was
erected into a separate charge on December 3rd, 1889. (b) Rev. A.
B. Todd, late of Macraes, Otago, was inducted on June 4th, 1890 ;
stipend, £250 with manse ; M., 69— Mr Todd was appointed Clerk of
Presbytery April 14th, 1891— He is also Convenpr of Committee on
Widows and Orphans Fund, and Committee on Aged and Infirm
Ministers Fund — Leave to sell the old church site was given on
April .5th, 1892— A monthly service at Woodbury, Scotsburn, Rangi-
tata, and Hilton— E., 5; M., 142; stipend, £250; total revenue,
£411 lls6d.
(5) PLEASANT POINT.
An occasional service was given by the minister of Timaru from
18»)5 onward- -The church was built in 1875— The congregation was
erected into a separate charge on May Lst, 1879 -Cannington was
attached January 14th, 1880. (a) Rev. A. Alkxandeu was inducted
on July 22nd, 1879, and resigned on April 14th, 1880. (b) Rev. D.
M'Lennan, who was licensed by the Presbytery of Timaru, was
ordained on November 11th, 1880, the call having 47 names, and the
stipend being £200— Albury, disjoin(;d from Geraldine, was attached
on February 1st, 1881 -The manse was built in the same year— Mr.
M'Lennan accepted a call from Akaroa on April 15th, 1885 (c) Rev.
TIMARU PRESBYTEKY. 379
W. White, M.A., licentiate of the Irish Presbyterian Church, was
crdainedand inducted on November 9th, 1885 — A church was erected
at Totara Valley in 1890 — Albury joined to Mackenzie Country January
lith, 1890, and Kakahu Bush attached — Mr. White accepted a call
to Wallacetowu on December 31st, 1890— (^) Rev. Joseph White,
of Otago and Southland Presbyterian Church, was inducted April
5th, 1892 — Services at Kakaku Bush, Totara Valley, Sutherlands,
Cannington — The manse was enlarged in 1892 — E., 6; M., 130;
stipend, £225 ; total revenue, £358 16s 3d.
(6) ST. ANDREW'S.
Mr. Donald McLennan, a student sent from Auckland by Rev. D.
Bruce and Church Extension Committee in October 1878, laboured
in Otaio till settled in Pleasant Point in November 1880 — Beacons-
field attached to Otaio, and Upper and Lower Otaio, Pareora,
Otipua, &c., formed into a regular charge on January 14th, 1880 — In
April 1880 George Gray Russell, Esq., gifted five acres of land at
Beaconsfield, Otipua, as a site for church and manse, and promised
£100 for Building Fund, and £25 for four years for Stipend Fund,
(a) Rev. Joshua McIntosh, late of Sefton, was inducted on August
9th, 1881 ; stipend £200, with rent of house — He resigned on October
22nd, 1883— On July 1st, 1884, the manse at Beaconsfield was
sold by a trustee, without the authority of Presbytery — The N.Z.
and A. Land Co. gave site and donation for manse at St. Andrew's.
October 1892— The charge was supplied during vacancy by Messrs.
Cowie and McCully, students. Revs. Ross, Finlayson, and Campbell,
and Mr. Mackie, student, &c. — A manse was built at St. Andrew's
in 1896. {b) Rev. Roeekt Mackie was ordained and inducted on
July loth, 1897 — Services at Makiki, Upper and Lower Otaio, St.
Andrews, Southbrook — M. ,64: stipend, £200; total revenue, £430
(£210 special, being raised for debt on manse and improving property).
(7) MACKENZIE COUNTRY.
This district was supplied with ordinances by the Rev. G.
Barclay, first from Timaru from 1865 to 1872, and then from
Geraldine from 1872 to December 3rd, 1889, when Mr. Barclay
380 HISTOKY OF N.Z. TKESBYTERIAN CHUllCH.
resigned and Mackenzie Country was formed into a separate charge —
A church at Burke's Pass was built as a Union Church in 1879 by
Presbyterians and Anglicans, and opened by Rev. G. Barclay
(Presbyterian), and Rev. Mr. Cooper (Anglican), and thus it remains ;
but 30 Presbyterian services were held last year and only 12 Anglican
— The church at Fairlie was also built as a Union Church on a site
of an acre gifted by the late Mr. D. McLeau, and opened on March
30th, 1879, by Revs. D. Bruce and G. Barclay. On the Union
Committee representing the Presbyterians were Messrs. D. McLeau
(chairman), A. H. McLean (secretary and treasurer), and James
Wilson — Mackenzie Country was formed into a separate charge,
promising a stipend of £200 on December 3rd, 1889— Albury was
disjoined from Pleasant Point and attached on January 14th, 1890
— The manse at Fairlie was built in 1891 on a site of 20 acres, a
gift of Mr. D. McLean, (a) Rev. J.\jiks Clarkk, a probationer from
Scotland, was ordained and inducted on January 27th, 1891 — Session
formed the same year — Mr. Clarke accepted a call to Palmerston
South on April 3rd, 1894. (b) Rev. W. J. Comrie, of Kelso, Otago,
was inducted on September 11th, 1894 -The Anglican interest in
Fairlie Union Church being bought out, that church became wholly
Presbyterian in 1895 — Steps are now being taken to build a Sabbath
School and vestry — Services are also held at Albury, Tengawai,
Silverstream, Ashwick Flat, Burke's Pass, with occasional services
through the Mackenzie Country as far as the Hermitage — E., 4 ; M.,
88; stipend, £250 ; total revenue, £330 os lid.
(8) WAITAKI.
Mr. Allan McLean, of Waikakahi, having given 30 acres of laud
here to the Presbyterians for Church purposes, and the Session of
Waimatc having made application to the Presbytery, Waitaki district
was erected into a separate charge on Octobor iOth, 189G — Rev. G. K.
Stowoll began work in February, 1897— A manse was erected near
Waihao railway station in 1898— Mr Stowell is still labouring there,
and living in the manse, having been recently appointed for another
term — A weekly service is held at Waihao and Glcnavy, and a
fortnightly at Redcliffe and W. Settlement.
WESTLAND PRESBYTERY. 381
YIL— WESTLAND PRESBYTERY.
(Formed January 7th, 1874.)
(1) HOKITIKA.
This congregation originated in the Hokitika Gold Rush of
18G5 — Services were huld for short periods by Rev. C. Eraser and
Canterbury ministers— A Building Committee was formed in April
1866— A church costing £700 was finished January 1867, when Rev.
J. Hall was officiating for a few months, (a) Rev. John Gow, of
Lyttelton, accepted call January 9th 1867 ; stipend, £450— A large
population in those days- -A cottage was bought for a manse in 1867
— The church was lined and manse enlarged in 1868, cost £380—
Mr. 0. Michelsen, now of the New Hebrides, became a member
September 11th 1868 — Glebe cleared of trees November 1870— A
good work was done by Mr. A. Scott with a noble band of teachers in
the Sabbath School— Mr. Mueller rendered invaluable service in
preaching all round the accessible outlying districts, in teaching the
Bible class, and in supplying the pulpit in the minister's absence —
At both Ross and Staffordtown a church and manse were built and a
minister settled. — A church was built at Hau-Hau and also at Wood-
stock— Week-day evening services were kept up at Blue Spur,
Kanieri, and occasionally at South Spit and other places in addition
to the weekly prayer meetings at Hokitika — Mr. Gow left for St.
Andrew's, Dunedin, October 1871, amid regrets expressed on all
sides— Mr. Button, &c., supplied during a vacancy of 11 months.
{b) Rev. Jas. KirkIjAnu, of Otago, was inducted September 10th 1872
— Like his predecessor he proved an earnest worker, but was not only
evangelical but evangelistic, and many were added to the Church of
Christ — A harmonium was introduced not without some friction — A
new manse, costing £430, was built and the old one sold— Mr.
Kirkland accepted call to Taieri, October 4th, 1875. (c) Rev. G.
MoRicE, formerly of Napier, was inducted November '2nd 1876, and
health being infirm at Hokitika left for Balclutha July 21st 1879
382 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
— M., 97. (d) Rev. W. Dodqias, M.A.., of Akaroa, was inducted
March 29th, 1881 — Fifty-oue members were added in 1885 at one
communion after a series of evangelistic services —Mr. Douglas was
Moderator of Assembly in 1882, and is Convener of the Chinese
Mission Committee — Few congregations have been so happy in the
choice of its ministers and oiTSce-bearers — All the many organizations
of the congregation are well mamtained, and the services of the
minister are much appreciated, but population here is declining —
E., 5 ; M., 170 ; stipend, £300 ; revenue, £424 ISs. lOd.
(2) OREYMOUTH.
Had been visited by Revs. John Hall, John Gow of Hokitika,
and C. Fraser. (a) Rev. Jos. McIntosh was inducted January 1870 at
Cbristchurch — Services were held in Volunteer Hall — A church
costing £600 was opened December 25th 1870 — Sabbath School was
commenced at once — Session was formed October 19th 1873 — Present
manse in March 1877 was bought for £540 — Mr. Mcintosh resigned
September 15th 1875. (b) Rev. A. F. Douglas was inducted March 1870
— He resigned through ill health of his wife March 6th 1878. (c) Rev.
W. H. Root, of Gisborne, was inducted October 27th 1878 — He resigned
October 27th 1881, and severed his connection with the Presbyterian
Church — A vacancy of 12 months was supplied by Mr. James
Malcolm, a teacher who in many ways has helped the church, (d) Rev.
B. J. Westbrooke, of Rakaia, was settled October 1882— Gold mining
was on the decline — A church was built at Brunnerton, and a good
congregation of miners gathered — Mr. Westbrook resigned April
1891. (e) Rev. A. Bakclay, a licentiate of the Free Church was
ordained August 1891 — He gave much promise, but resigntd through
ill health, April 1892. (/) Rev. Ronx. Stewart, of Woodville, and
formerly of Rakaia, was inducted on September 19th, 1892— The
members were 58 — The church was enlarged within twelve months,
and the seating accommodation raised from 200 to 300, the cost being at
once met — To meet the wishes of Mr. Moss, the organist, his efficient
choir, and the congregation, a two-manual pipe organ was opened on
May 4th 1898, £400 having been subscribed— The average attendance
at the morning service is 150, and at the evening service 235 — A Young
Men's Mutual Improvement Society, established by Mr. Barclay and
fostered by Mr. Stewart, occupies a prominent position in the town —
WESTLAND PRESBYTERY. 383
The same may be said of the Christian Endeavour Society, some
members of which are actively engaged teaching the Chinese to read
and study the Bible— The Sabbath School liberally supports the
Foreign Missions — Fortnightly services are held by Mr. Stewart in
Marsden and Maori Creek, distant from Greyraouth 10 and IG miles
respectively, another testimony to the usefulness of the bicycle—
E., 3 ; M., 105 ; stipend, £250 ; revenue, £417.
(3) KUMARA.
This congregation, like the township itself, originated in the gold
rush of July 1876, when the road between Hokitika looked like an Old
Country fair. Rev. W. Hogg, who was in the district at the time,
selected a site at the scene of the rush for a church and manse, which
was afterwards exchanged for one in the heart of the new diggings —
Rev. G. Morice, of Hokitika, and his otBce-bearers supplied services
for some time — A church was opened on November 18th, 1877, by
Rev. A. F. Douglas, of Greymouth, cost about £400. (a) Rev. W.
West, a teacher at Wanganui, who possessing good evangelistic gifts
was induced to enter the ministry, was ordained in February, 1879 ;
stipend, £300 — Not confining his services altogether to Kumara, he
preached the Gospel up and down the coast, from Ross to Reef ton,
and, amid general regret, left for Southbridge on August, 1882 — From
this time onward the charge retrograded, (h) Rev. G. Hay, who had
been supplying Kumara and Stafford, a joint charge, for eight months,
was ordained and inducted in October 1884, and, failing to advance
the interests of the charge, resigned, and left for New South Wales in
little over a year afterwards, (c) Rev. Peter Ramsay was ordained
and inducted to Kumara and Stafford in 1887, and was translated to
Knaj^dale, Otago, in .July 1889. (d) Rev. G. K. Stowell was inducted
in February, 1891, and resigned in February, 1893 owing to his wife's
delicate health. Since then the congregation has been supplied by
Home missionaries, amongst whom Mr. James Dickie with his wife
did good service. The present occupant of the field is Mr. J. G.
Chappie — As elder, Sunday School teacher, leader of psalmody, and
lay preacher, Mr. R. Stewart, now Rev. R. Stewart, has left the charge
under a debt of gratitude. So has Mr. John Bain, for many years
elder, in teaching in the Sunday School as well as distributing
Christian literature all over the Coast.
3S4 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
(i) WESTFORT.
This charge was organised by Rev. D. Bruce during a visit of his to
Westland in November, 1879. (a) Rev. J. M. Eraser, of t'oromandel,
who commenced to hold services in a public hall on December 12th,
accepted a call in February 1880, and resigned in January 1881.
(h) Rev. p. R. Monro, after labouring in the district for a term as a
student, was ordained and inducted in May 1883 — A church costing
£400 was erected — Mr. Monro was inducted into Oxford and Cust on
August 10th, 1886. (c) Rev. H.B. Burnett, of Halkett, was inducted
on March 16th, 1887 — A Kirk Session was organised on July 7th, 1889
— Mr. Burnett, who was Moderator of Assembly in 1890, resigned
through ill health in April, 1891— M., 24— Rev. R. C. Morrison and
others supplied the vacancy, (d) Rev. John Hall, once of Vancouver's
Island, formerly an efficient supply, and organiser of congregations
in New Zealand, late of Waterford, Ireland, during a supply of three
months, added 20 members to the communion roll. He was
inducted November 6th 1892— Though Mr. Hall has won his spurs
in many countries and congregations, in no place has he felt more
happiness in his work than at Westport. E., 4 ; M., 71 ; stipend,
£200 ; revenue, £237.
(5) REEFTON.
This mining district was without a minister during its most
prosperous times. Ministers of Greymouth, Kumara, etc., often
visited it, but no regular service till Rev. Robert Thornton, then
headmaster of Reefton Public School, by request, began services in
the Oddfellows' Hall on September 9th, 1883. (a) Rev. Wiluam
Gow was ordained on September 2nd, 1884 ; stipend, £240— A
church costing £600, and seating 200, was opened on August 31st,
1884, and a Sabbath School commenced the same day — A Session was
formed in 1888, composed of Messrs Banks, Preshan, Dykes, and Sliep-
herd, men who had much to do in forming the congregation — Mr Gow
was translated to Kaiapoi on July 2nd, 1891— M., 60. (/;) Rev,
B. HuTSON, of Ravensbourne, was inducted on September 22nd,
1891— Mining becoming depressed he left Reefton in September 1894,
and some time after was inducted at Stratford — The congregation
has been a Church Extension charge since, and ministered to by
students, viz., Messrs. Jamieson, Webster, Spence, and Crawford —
E., 2; M., 07 ; stipend, £150 ; revenue, £207 123 6d.
WESTLAND PRESBYTERY. 385
(6) TOTARA FLAT.
The neighbouring ministers, especially those of Greymouth, gave
oocasional services for a time. On February 7th 1882, after a
sermon preached by Rev, W. West, of Kumara, to a congregation
of 35 in the Globe Hotel, a resolution was passed to build a
new church, and a committee appointed — On April 15th 1883, a
church costing £225, and seating 60 persons, was opened by
E«v. Mr Westbrooke, of Greymouth. Here Rev. W. Gow gave a
fortnightly service, from January 1884 till February 1890, when
in response to a requisition, Mr. D. A. Anderson, a Home mis-
sionary, was appointed by the Church Extension Committee. In
1893 a cottage manse was built on the same section as church, cost
£250. (a) Rev. D. A. Anderson was inducted in April 1895, and was
translated to Sefton in 1898.
(7) BRUNNERTON.
This church originated in 1879 with the visits of Rev. W. H.
Root, of Greymouth. Services were maintained by the ministers of
Greymouth and Messrs. Taylor and Malcolm— In 1883 a church
capable of seating 180 was erected, and in 1885 freed from debt — The
congregation was constituted a separate charge in 1891 — This church,
like the district which had once a population of 2000, has suffered
much from the depression of the Grey Valley mining interest, and
the variety and uncertainty of ministerial supply, yet the members
remaining have kept well together — Amongst those who have
officiated are : Mr. Fairmaid, student of Otago, 1885 ; Mr. D.
Anderson, lay missionary, 1886-87, and again in 1890 ; Mr. J. M.
Simpson, student, 1888-90 ; the late Mr. T. Finlay, student, 1892 ;
Rev. Mr. Hutchison, from Queensland, 1893 ; Mr. Jas. Thompson,
student, 1894 Mr. E. McDowall, Home Missionary — Members in
1895, 70.
386 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
YIIL— WANGANUI PRESBYTERY
(Formed March, 1884.)
(1) WINGANDI.
(a) Rev. D. Hoqo, of U.P. Church, Scotland, was inducted in
January 1853 — The first church was of toi-toi, with an attendance
of about 30— A new church was built in 1854 — Mr. Hogg, after
13 years' arduous labour, resigned through ill-health in 1866 —
Application was then made to the Free Church of Scotland for "a
minister of talent and experience," who should receive £50 for
passage out and £300 per year, {b) Rev. John Elmslie, of Kenneth-
mont, in the Presbytery of Alford, Scotland, was appointed to
Wanganui. He appears to have been happy in the Home charge, but
to have been moved by an earnest appeal made in the Free Church
Assembly by Dr. Cairns, of Melbourne, to give himself to colonial
work. He arrived in New Zealand in January 1867, and, being
inducted, at once vigorously entered upon his new sphere of labour.
Services during the vacancy had been supplied by Revs. Messrs. Taylor
(Mr. Hogg's son-in-law) and John Hall. Owing, however, to their
intermittent character and the uncertainty of supply the congregation
had suffered a good deal. All friends of the cause now rallied around
Mr. Elmslie. In a few months the old church was found so in-
adequate that the congregation, full of hope, resolved to build a new
and more commodious church, and erect a suitable manse, at a cost of
£3300. The extensive building scheme was on the eve of completion
and congregational prosperity seemed assured when a series of
disasters occurred. The old and new churches were both suddenly
burned down by a fire, which left the manse standing, and the people
of Wanganui without a place of worship. Before an attempt to
retrieve this disaster could be made, the last great Maori War broke
out and ravaged the whole country from Wanganui to New Plymouth.
This new calamity put a stop not only to church building but to
nearly all regular church work for almost two years. Occasional
servioes were held in the Oddfellows' Hall. That was all. A good
WANGANUI PRESBYTERY. 387
many of the oongregation were drafted for the seat of the disturbance.
'Unable to do much duty in town Mr. Elmslie in those days often went
under escort to conduct services for the troops, who were made up of
volunteers and armed constabulary, and did good service in soothing
the wounded and dying. It may be said to have been war on a small
scale, but it had all the devilry of the war spirit. When peace waa
restored at the end of 1869 the church was built, and regular services
resumed with more hope and enthusiasm than ever.
" Our bugles sang truce for the night cloud had lowered.
And sentinel stars set their watch in the sky."
Mr. Elmslie was called to the Moderator's chair of the Assembly in
1872. A happy revival time ensued in the oongregation. As if to
make up for past reverses patiently borne, God appears to have sent
down showers of blessings on the heads of the people of Wanganui in
1875. For sixteen weeks special services were conducted by Mr.
Elmslie and the Rev. R. Bevan, Wesleyan minister, mostly in the
Oddfellows' Hall. During this period many souls were added to the
Church, of those that were being saved, and the communion roll of
the Presbyterian congregation was greatly increased. The strain of
that time on mind and body was felt by Mr. Elmslie afterwards, and
had not a little to do with his acceptance of a call to St. Paul's,
Christchurch, the following year. When he left, in May 1876, the
congregation, having met all the expenses of their building operations,
were entirely free from debt, and the membership stood at 275. The
congregation had not long to wait for a worthy successor, (c) Rev.
Jambs Tekadwell was inducted in November 1876. The manner in
which he became a Presbyterian is very interesting, and no doubt
accounts for the strong convictions he had on the doctrine, govern-
ment, and worship of the Presbyterian Church, and the ability with
which he was able in their defence to enter the lists against all comers.
By birth he was an English Episcopalian, and brought up in the
faith of that Church. At the age of twelve years, however, he was
sent to the Coldstream Boarding School in Berwick. There soon the
question of Presbytery versus Episcopacy was brought under his notice,
and with the Bible in his hand and the aid of such controversial
literature on both sides as he could obtain, he decided once for all in
favour of Presbytery. What adds to the interest is that it was not a
mere intellectual conviction. At the same time and place he received
388 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
religious impressions, which a perusal of the " Anxious Inquirer "
deepened into a saving knowledge of the trutn. Like his two pre-
decessors he had considerable experience in other fields of labour,
first as minister of Balmoral and Harrow in the Presbytery of Ballarat,
whither he had gone for the sake of his health, and again as minister
of Free Church, Stevenston, Scotland, where he had a small congrega-
tion, but ample time for study. Of the latter he seems to have eagerly
availed himself, and this brings out another marked feature in his
twenty years' ministry at Wanganui. In addition to the faithful
discharge of the ordinary duties of the pastorate he took the deepest
interest in the cause of education, doing it good service as a member
of the local School Committee, and the district Education Board, and
the Church's " Board of Examiners." He was Moderator of Assembly
in 1885 — A Lecture Hall was built in 1889 — An organ, costing £500,
was secured just before his decease — Mr; Treadwell died, after acute
suffering borne with patience, on January 24th 1897, the Assembly
minuting: — ". . . For many years the pastor of an important charge,
where he made full proof of his ministry, he also took a leading part
in the general work of the Church, especially in that of the New
Hebrides, education, and Union, in which he gave valuable assistance
and counsel," &c.
It is a proof of how the times are changed that Wanganui on the
occasion of this vacancy no longer looked to the Old Country for a
minister. It gave a call to one colonial-born and colonial-educated.
(d) Rev. R. M. Rtburn, of Gisbornfe, was inducted in September
1897, and is labouring there as minister of a strong and united con-
gregation, with much promise of success. — Wanganui has been
fortunate in the choice of its ministers — E., 14 ; M., 236 ; stipend,
£400 ; revenue, £1329.
(2) TURAKINA.
(a) Rev. John Thom began work here in 1857, the Free Church
of Scotland giving £50 per year for a time — Mr. Jas. Wilson, who
gave 10 acres of ground for glebe, cemetery, and school purposes,
may be called the father of this old congregation — Mr. Thom left for
Hutt August 9th 1858. (h) Rev. P. Mason was appointed in
September 1859, and resigned on December 81st 1860. (c) Mb. R. J.
Allswobth, Principal of the Kai Iwi Native Institution and Free
WANGANUI PRESBYTERY. 389
Church student from Glasgow, was appointed on April 1st 1861, and
ordained by Rev. D. Hogg, the Free Church giving £50 per year for
three years — The first elders were Messrs. J. Bruce, sen., A. Milne,
and J. Wilson, sen. — A church was opened at Bonny Glen in July
1861, and enlarged in 1865 — The foundation stone of a church at
Turakina was laid on October 14th 1864 by Rev. Jas. Duncan,
Manawatu, who first preached here about 1852, Mr. W. Watt, of
Wanganui, planting an oak to mark the spot ; this church cost £800,
and was opened on April 2nd 1865 ; the parish was divided in 1864 —
The Maori War setting in, Mr. Allsworth left in 1869 for Victoria.
(d) Rev. John Wilson, from Ireland, was settled in the end of
1869, and after a pastorate of eighteen months left for Australia.
(e) Rev. John Ross, of Wairarapa, was inducted in July 1871 — A
debt of £200 was at once cleared off — In 1874, M., 43 — A manse built
in 1875 has grown into a large educational establishment for ladies,
conducted by Mr. Ross — A special work of grace begun in 1885 doubled
the communion roll, caused attendance at weekly prayer meeting to
equal that of Sabbath Day, and is felt still — About 10 years ago the
little church at Bonny Glen, then the oldest in the province, gave
place to a neat structure designed, like many more, by Mr. Ross, and
opened free of debt— Mr. Ross, in 1899, left for a short visit to
Scotland. M., 120; stipend, £181; revenue, £227 2s.
(3) FOXTON.
(a) Rev. Jas. Ddnoan, a Maori missionary, sent out by the
Reformed Church of Scotland in 1843, was the first minister of
this place. He began work among the Maoris in July 1844 and
among the settlers more particularly at Foxton, in 1801, the
Presbytery of Wellington directing his attention to the settlers also
at Rangitikei, Parawanui, and Bulls, where ho held services for ten
years until a minister was obtained— The church here was built in
1867, cost £425— Mr. Duncan was twice Moderator of Assembly, i.e.,
in 1863 and 1888, and as an early pioneer missionary and pastor and
supply for vacant pulpits, has rendered long and faithful service-
He resigned in 1897, but still preaches once fortnightly, although
86 years of age.
390 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
(i) MARTON.
The first services by Rev. R. J. AUsworth in 1862 in Mr. Prince's
house at Tutaenui, now Marton. (a) Rev, Jas. Gumming, late
assistant at Montrose, was inducted May 24th 1865, and left in
1869 -The church at Marton was built in 1871, cost £652. (h) Rev.
W. Stewart, of U.P. Church, Northumberland, arrived in 1872 —
A manse costing £500 was built in 1873— Upper Tutaenui church
was erected in 1874 — Mr. Stewart was inducted in 1876, resigned in
1883, and died at Marton on August 1st 1894.— M., 50. (c) Rev. D.
Gordon, late of Conlig, Co. Dov;n, Ireland, was inducted on June 11th
1884, was Moderator of Assembly in 1894, and is Convener of
Maori Mission Committee — E., 7 ; M., 81 ; stipend, £210 ; revenue
£234 78 8d.
(5) NEW PLYMOUTH.
Presbyterianism here has a chequered history — Rev. John
Thorn coming to the district in 1858, itinerated here for three
years. (a) Rev. R. F. Macnicol, late assistant of St. Luke's,
Glasgow, arrived on November 23rd 1865, the Church of Scotland
guaranteeing £150 a year for some time — He found the military settlera
gone, but the Independents joined the Presbyterians found remain-
ing — A church to seat 200 and costing £700 was built in 1866 — He
left for Auckland January 29th 1869— Rev. T. Blair and Mr. Wells,
catechist, gave services — A Rev. M. S. Breach came on the scene
in 1873 and was the cause of much strife- The church was burnt
down and services suspended — A new church costing £700 was
built in 1884— Messrs. Grant and Jolly also supplied. (6) Rev. Jas.
A. Dawson was ordained on August 20th 1885, and resigned through
ill health on May 19th, 188G. (c) Rev. W. Grant, whose work
as a student here was appreciated, was ordained on February 7th
1889, and having drawn the congregation well together left for Leeston
May 20th 1891.— M., 57. (d) Rev. C. McDonald, a licentiate of Free
Church of Scotland, was ordained on October 15th 1891— A school-
room was built — Mr. McDonald resigned through ill health in August
1894.— M., 69. («) Rev. S. S. Osborne was ordained on October
3l8t 1894— The congregation is now in a prosperous condition — E.,
3 ; M., 82 ; stipend, £200 ; revenue, £331 9s 2d.
WANGANUI PRESBYTERY. 391
(6) BULLS.
(a) Rev. Jas. Doull late of F. C, Fellar, Shetland Isles, was
inducted in May 1873, a manse costing £380 being ready for occupation
— A church costing £250 was built in 1875 — Both church and manse
were enlarged in 1886 at a cost of £350— An afternoon service is held
at Parawanui where Rev. Jas, Duncan held services previous to 1873,
and where a church was built about 1864— Mr. Doull was Moderator
of Assembly in 1884, and has been entrusted with many other
important offices in the Church— E., 4; M., 48; stipend, £137;
revenue, £156 17b. 4d.
(7) WAYERLEY.
The settlers who returned after the war were ministered to by Rev.
John Elmslie of Wanganui, and then by Rev. N. MeCallum, of Patea, in
whose time (1875) a church site was secured and a manse built upon it.
(a) Rev. R. J. Allsworth, late of Victoria and formerly of Turakina,
was inducted on June 29th 1876, stipend £200— Services at Waverley,
Maxwelltown, Patea, and Hav9era — A church to seat 250 was opened
on December 16th 1877, £748 having been subscribed — A bell and
clock were added in 1878 — the Plymouth Brethren were the occasion of
a great division in this church— Mr. Allsworth resigned on April 7th
1885. (b) Rev. Jas. Nevillb was ordained in 1886 — Believing in
centralisation he held few outside services— He left for Scotland in
September 1888. (c) Rev. T. MacDonald, who had been supplying
Petone was ordained on June 13th 1889 — New life manifested itself,
especially in the prayer meeting — Attendance on ordinances having
increased, a transept was added to the church — Services at Kohi,
Waitotara and Maxwelltown. (d) Rev. T. MacDonald, having gone
Home to Scotland in 1891 and returned, was inducted in March, 1892,
and was translated to Hawera on December 4th 1894— M., 150.
(e) Rev. C. McDonald, of New Plymouth, was inducted in August,
1895— E., 4; M, 172; stipend, £200 ; revenue £270.
(8) PALMERSTON NORTH.
Services were commenced here by Revs. Elmslie and Duncan 24
years ago in an old sawmill— Mr. R. McGregor, student, took charge
in 1875, and supplied for a few years — A church to seat 120 was
392 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
built near the Square in 1878. (a) Rev. A. M. Wbight, M.A., who
had been a supply of Waikato West, and for six months of
Palmerston, was ordained and inducted in 1879— A wing was added to
Palmerston church, and a church erected at Awahuri— Mr. Wright
was inducted in Lincoln February 9th 1892. (h) Rev. W. Thomson,
a licentiate of Free Church, Scotland, was ordained on May 18th
1892— The manse was secured in 1882 at a cost of £500— A new
church was opened on December 10th 1893 by Rev. J. Paterson,
Wellington — Messrs. Watson and Brownlee, missionaries, travel over
a radius of 30 miles— E., 12 ; M., 180 ; stipend, £250 ; revenue, £362.
(9) HAWERA.
A committee to establish ordinances was held in the Block House
on April 12th 1874 — Rev. N, McCallum, itinerating on the Coast,
made Hawera his headquarters for two years — Rev. A. Martin
supplied for a few months, when on January 14th 1877 a church
was opened on a site given by Mr. A. Winks, (a) Rev. James
ToRRY was inducted on November 14th 1879 ; stipend, £200, and
£26 in lieu of manse— Fatea was disjoined, a church having been
built there— A church was erected at Normanby— Mr. Torry died
after a protracted illness July 19th 1885— Mr. W. Grant, a student,
supplied for eight months, (h) Rev, A. McLean, B.D., formerly of
Waipu, was inducted November 4th, 1886 — A manse was erected in
1890, £300 being donated by Mrs. S. Stephenson, of New Brunswick —
Mr, McLean resigned on January 28th 1891 — Manaia was disjoined
in 1891. (c) Rev. R. McGregor, late of Kaiapoi, was inducted to
Hawera, Normanby, and Okiawa, September 9th 1891 — A church at
Okiawa, costing £150, was built in 1893 — Mr. McGregor resigned
through ill-health on May 16th 1894— M., 116. (d) Rev. T.
MacDonald of Waverley was inducted on December 4th 1894 —
E., 5 ; M., 116 ; stipend, £250 ; revenue, £335 17s 8d,
(10) FEILDINO.
(a) Rev. H. M. Murray wag ordained on May 20th 1880— Servicei
held in a schoolroom — A church opened in May 1882— A manse was
built in 1887, costing with church £800— The church at Halcombe
WANGANUI PRESBYTERY. 393
was erected in 1885 ; cost, £300 — Halcombe was disjoined about
1893 — Mr. Murray, whose stipend was about £90 and £25 Church
Extension grant, resigned in 1896. — M., 21. (b) Rev. F. Stubbs was
inducted on August 18th 1896 (stipend, £175), and was called to Gust
and Oxford on October 27th 1898— M., 86. (c) Rev. C. Mukrat,
M.A., of Wairarapa South, and formerly missionary at Ambrym was
inducted on November 16th, 1898— E., 4 ; M., 115; stipend, £208.
(11) PATBA.
Rev. N. McCallum began preaching to a few families here in
1874, his labours extending to Waverley, Wairoa, and Hawera ; but
losing his wife left in April 1876 — A manse was built in his time at
Waverley — Rev. James Torry, of Hawera, took charge — A church was
built in 1878 ; cost, £400— After the death of Mr Torry in 1885, Messrs.
A. Thomson, now of Petone, and J. B. Finlay supplied — Patea was
erected into a full charge in November 1887 — M., 15. (a) Rev. A.
Thomson, recently a supply of Mongonui, and late of Waiuku,
was inducted in 1887, but population declining he resigned in 1889.
Patea has since been supplied by students and by Rev. A. M. Beattie,
who resigned in 1898. M., 40 ; stipend, £125 ; revenue, £139.
(12) MANAIA.
Services were held fortnightly by Rev. J. Torry of Hawera in
Wesleyan Church, and then in Court House, afterwards by the
Rev. Mr. M'Lean of Hawera — A church was opened free of debt.
(a) Rev. A. M'Lennan, M.A., of Tauranga, was inducted in October
1891, and left for Sydney in 1897. (bj Rev. W. H. Philip of Pahiatua
was inducted on March 16th, 1898 — HeofiSciates at four out-stations,
viz., Auroa, Kaponga, Otakeho, and Kapuni— E., 5; M., 73 ; stipend,
£170, including £20 Church Extension grant.
(IS) HUNTERYILLE.
Services by Revs. Gordon, Ross, and Doull — A church site pur-
chased in October 1887— The schoolroom was exchanged for Argyle
Hall in March 1889— A church was opened on December Ist 1889,
394 HISTORY OF N.Z. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
free of debt— The pulpit was supplied by Messrs. Finlay, Fletcher,
Todd, Barclay, Bates, and Martin, candidates for the ministry, (a)
Rev. D. Maktin, B.A., a student from Ireland, was ordained on
October 19th 1893 — A tower was added to the church — A cottage
manse, costing £300, was built— E., 3 ; M., 32 ; stipend, £160.
(14) STRATFORD.
At a meeting held on May 30th 1889 it was resolved to establish
a church here, and Rev. Joshua M'Intosh began services unde
Church Extension Committee — A church was opened on May 4th
1890, and a manse built and partly finished in 1893— Mr. M'Intosh
died on July 20th 1894. (a) Rev. B. Hotson of Reefton was
inducted on March 5th 1895 — The communion roll was made up
that year of 40 members (24 by certificate and 16 by profession).
The church at Stratford was removed to a more central position and
enlarged the following year — A church was built at Toko, one of
the out-stations, in 1898 — At the beginning of 1899 the seating
accommodation was increased to meet requirements of the congrega-
tion, and d strong effort is being made to wipe off the remaining £200
of debt, and build a new church— In 1889, before coming to Stratford,
Mr. Hutson succeeded in dividing the honours with Dr. MacGregor
of Oamaru in the competition for £100 offered for the best essay on
" Socialism in Relation to Christianity" by the trustees of the late
Mr. John Frazer— M., 83 ; stipend, £175 (including £25 Church
Extension grant) ; revenue, £189 23. lOd.
INDEX
-OF-
NAMES AND SUBJECTS.
INDEX OF NAMES AND SUBJECTS.
(See also Outline of Contents and Index of Illcstbations
prefixed to this Volume.)
ABBREVIATIONS.
In this Index the capital letters indicate the Chiu'ches from which ministers originally
came, and in most cuaes these were the Churches in which they were educated. F.C.,
stands tor Free Church ; I.P.C., Irish Presbyterian Church ; C.S., Church of Scotland ;
IT.PJ'., United Presbyterian Church; E.F.C., English Presbyterian Church; I.O.,
Independent Church ; if. C, Methodist Church ; r.O..S., Church of Otago and Southland.
After the minister's name the numeral with the letter c attached indicates the number of
charges he has ministered to in this Church, and then follows the number of years
they cover. In the same way after the name of the congregation the numeral with the
letter ?n attached indicates the number of ministers it has had, and then follows the
number of years the ministers unitedly cover. In many cases, owing to delay in calling
fli'st minister and interregnums, the age of a congregation will be greater than this. To
help the reader to trace a minister from one charge to another such references are
chronologically arranged. Computations of time are made up to June, 1899.
Paqe.
Adams, Rev. T., I.C, 1 c, 3| yrs. 326
Adamson, Kev. H., I.P.C, 1 c,
4Jyr8. .. .. 315,356
Addington Cemetery . . . . 134
Aged and Infirm Ministers Fund 227
Alexander, Rev. A., F.C., 1 c,
i yr. . . . . 360, 378
Alison, Mr. . . . . . . 19
Allan, Rev. R. S., F.C. and N.Z.,
1 c, 3| yrs. . . . . 360
Allsworth, Rev. R. J., F.C, 3 c,
27f yrs. . . . . 374, 388, 391
Amuri Charge, 2 m., 22| yrs.,
147-49, 353
Anderson, Rev. D. A., N.Z., 2 c,
3J yrs. . . . . 357, 385
Anderson, Rev. A., R.P.C., 1 c,
1 yr. . . . . . . 329
Akaroa Charge, 6 m., 22 yrs.
141, 351
Arnot, Rev. A.B., F.C, 1 c, 3yrs.
314, 323, 329
Ashburton Charge, 3 m., 23 J yrs. 357
Asher, Rev. J. A., C.O.S. 314, 366
Auckland Presbytery . . . . 319
Avondale Charge, 6 m., 21J yrs. 329
Badqeb, Mr. B.
Bain, Mr. J. . .
Baird, Mr. T.
332
383
76
Paqe.
Baird, Mr. S. C, . . . . 76
Bannatyne, Rev. John, F.C, 1 c,
2iyr8. .. .. ..374
Barclay, Rev.A.,F.C.,lc., Smths. 382
Barclay, Rev. G., E.P.C, 3c., 25yrB.
155-165, 204-5, 267, 376, 377, 379
Barclay, Rev. P., F.C, 1 c, 7 yrs.
115, 366, 367, 378
Barr, Rev. R., F.C, 1 c, 7 yrs.. . 330
Barrier Act . . . . . . 233
Beattie, Rev. A. M., F.C, 1 c,
13| yrs. . . . . . . 357
" Bengal Merchant " . . 20, 23
Bible in Schools . . . . 271
Blake, Rev. A., F.C, 2 c, 12Jyr8.
303, 314, 355, 364
Blenheim Chajge, 4 m., 48 yrs. , . 372
Bonar, Mr. A. . . . . 178
Book of Order . . . . 237
Boyd, Rev. J. S., 1 c, If yrs. . . 338
Brown, Rev. G.,F.C, 1 c, 20 yrs. 325
Brown, Rev. W. P., F.C, 1 c, 1 yr.
314, 346
Brown, Mrs. . . . . 142, 209, 351
Bruce, Rev. Jas., F.C. and N.Z.,
2 c, 7^ yrs. . . 324, 326, 335
Bruce, Rev. D., F.C, 1 c, 24^ yrs.
69-72, 82 85, 110, 248, 319
Brunnerton Charge . . . . 385
Bulls Charge, 1 m., 26 yrs. . . 391
898
INDEX OF NAMES AND SUBJECTS.
Paqe.
Burnett, Rev. H. B., I.P.C, 3 c,
15i yrs. . . . . 357, 359, 384
Button, Mr. C. E. .. .. 179
Caibns, Rev. T. R., I.P.C, 1 c,
7yrB. .. .. ..360
Calder, Rev. P., F.C., 1 c, 33J yrs.
105, 372
Calvinism, Testimonies in Favour
of 13
Cambridge Charge, 4 m., 24 J yrs. 332
Campbell, Rev. Johu, F.C., 2 c,
8 yrs. Ill, 150, 355, 356, 373
Campbell, Rev. W. R., F.C., 2 c,
15 yra,, .. ..165,353,376
Campbell, Mr. . 126, 372
Canterbury Plains . . . . 122
Canterbury P.C. Extension As-
sociation . . . . . . 250
Carrick, Rev. A,, Canada, 1 c,
17iyr8. .. .. ..320
Catholicity of Presbyterian Church
11, 313
Cemetery Dispute at Wellington 38
Chappie, Mr. J. G. . . . . 383
Chinese Mission . . 303-4
Chisholm, Mr. R. A. . . . . 158
Christchurch Presbytery . . 351
Christian Endeavourers . . 304
Church Building, Difficulty of . . 209
Church Extension 82-7, 226, 244-56
" Church Praise " .. .. 235
Clark, Mr. A... .. ..66
Clarke, Rev. J., F.C., Ic, 3^yrB. 315, 380
Classics in University Training 230 2
Comrie, Rev. W., C.S. . . 59, 319
Corarie, Rev. W. J., N.Z., 2 c,
6| yrs. 314, 315, 330, 380
Connor, Rev. C, U.P.C, 1 c,
4 yrs. . . . . 365, 367
Coroumndel Charge, 4 m., 5 yrs. 332
Cowie, Mr. John, F.C. and N.Z. 374
Cree, Rev. J. W., F.C, 1 c,
18£ yrs. . . . . . . 356
Cumming, Rev. Jas., F.C, 1 c,
4 yrs. .. .. .,390
Cast and Oxford Charge, 4 m.,
20|yrb. .. .. ..358
Faoe.
Dawson, Rev. J. A., F.C. and N.Z.,
1 0., 9 mths. . . . . 390
Dayspring, Story of the 294-300
Deans, Messrs. William and John 123-5
Deans, jun., Mr. John . . . . 127
Declaratory Act . . . . 242
Devonport Charge, 6 m., 21J yrs. 330
Dickie, Mr. Jas.
, ,
383
Dickson, Rev. J., I.P.C,
1 c..
Hi yrs
303,
377
Democratic Church
14
Dinwiddie, Rev. W., E.P.C
,2 c..
3 yrs. . .
361,
362
Disruption in Scotland
93
DouRlas, Rev. A. F., F.C.
2 c.
6i yrs. . . . . . . 382
Douglas, Rev. S., F.C. and N.Z.,
2c., 8 yrs. . . 367, 370, 373
Douglas, Rev. W., F.C, 2 c,
24J yrs. . . 303, 352, 382
Doull, Rev. J., F.C, 1 c„ 26 yrs.
365, 391
Doull, Rev. A., N.Z., 1 c, 2 yrs. 365
Dron, Rev. W., F.C, 1 c, 6 yrs.
52, 342
Duncan, Rev, Jas., R.P.C, 1 c,
36 yrs. .. 45-7, 301, 312, 389
Dunn, Rev. T. W.,F.C. and N.Z.,
lo.,5JyrB. .. 336,337
" Education Bill " Dispute at
Auckland . . . . 62
Education . . . . 136, 257-72
Educated Ministry . . . . 129
Elderbhip .. .. 5, 101
Elmslie, Rev. Dr., F.C, 2 c,
32J yrs.
Elliott, Rev.
13J yrs.
Erwin, Rev
15J yrs. . .
Establishment, Attempted
Ecclesiastical
Ewen, Rev. R.
Evans, Rev. W., E.P.C.
18 yrs. . .
Examination Board for
logical Students . .
216, 354, 386, 391
K., I.P.C, 2 c.,
347, 348
Dr., I.P.C, 1 c.
1 c.
Theo-
362
39
164
332
226
INDEX OF NAMES AND SUBJECTS.
399
Page.
FUBMAID,
Mr.
..
.. 385
Farr, Mr.,
S. C.
.. 144
Ferguson,
Ferguson,
N.Z.
Rev.
i. . .
Rev.
R
J.
, F.C,
D., F.C.
.. 354
2 c,
.. 326
and
355, 360
Feilding Charge, 3 m., 21| yrs . . 392
Findlay, Rev. J. B., I.P.C. and N.Z.,
1 c, 5 yrs. .. 352,393
Finlay, Rev. W. F., F.C. and N.Z.,
1 c, 11 yrs. .. ..336
Finlayson, Rev. W., E.P.C., 2 c,
4 yrs. . . . . 314, 360, 364
Flemington and Tinwald Charge,
2 m., 13| yrs. . . . . 364
Fletchei, Rev. H. J., N.Z. . . 302
Foreign Mission .. 225,241,285-94
Forbes, Rev. T. R., F.C. and N,Z.,
1 c, 9 mths. .. 330,336
Foxton Charge, 1 m., 36 yrs. . , 389
Fraser, Rev. C, 1 c, 26f yrs.
131-44, 173, 248, 279, 351, 354
Fraser, Rev. J. M., F.C. and N.Z.,
3 c, 2 yrs. . . 315, 333, 370, 384
Fraser, Rev. T. M., Victoria, 1 c,
4 yrs. . . . . . . 337
Fraser Rev. R., F.C, 2 c, 15 yrs.
367, 368
Free Church Ministers . . 313
Freedom of the Will . . . . 7
Fulton, Rev. D., F.C. and N.Z.,
lc.,6|yrs. .. ..346
Galloway, Rev. Ja3., F.C. and
N.Z., 1 c, 6 yrs. .. 330,336
General Assembly, First Meeting
of .. .. 223-27
Geraldine Charge, 2 m., 19J yrs.
163, 378
Gillies, Rev. W., C.O.S., 1 c,
24 yrs. .. 166-9,314,370
Gillies, Rev. A., F.C, ., ..294
Gillespie, Mr. . . 141, 352
Gisborne Charge, 4 ra., 24 yrs . . 368
Gold Fever . . . . . . 220
Gordon, Rev. D., I.P.C, Ic, 15yrs. 390
Gordon, Rev. D., I.P.C. 1 o.,
4iyr3. .. .. 314,377
Page.
Gorrie, Rev. J., U.P.C, Ic, 7Jyr8. 326
Gow, Rev. John, F.C, 3 c,
19| yrs. 151, 174, 176, 184, 314,
335, 355, 381
Gow, Rev. W. J., N.Z., 2 c.
14| yrs. . . . . 353, 356, 385
Grant, Rev. A., F.C. and N.Z.,
1 c, 16 yrs. .. ..368
Grant, Rev. G., F.C, 2 c, 6| yrs.
142-3, 352, 353
Grant, Rev. W., N.Z., 2 c, 9J yrs.
356, 365, 390
Gray, Rev. A., F.C, 1 c, 5^ yrs. 343
Greymoulh Charge, 6 m., 26^ vrs
18i-4, 382
Halkett and Kimbebley Charge,
2 m., 8 yrs. .. ..359
Hall, Rev. John, I.P.C, 1 c,
6J yrs. . . 175, 176, 335, 384
Hamilton Charge, 2 m., 4 yrs. . . 337
Hamilton, Rev. D., I.P.C, 1 c,
li yrs. . . . . 207, 329
Hart, Mr A. .. .. ..161
Hastings and C Charge, 1 m.,
5yrs. .. .. ..370
Hauxwell, Rev. F. M., F.C, 2 c.
6| yrs. . . . . 358, 359
Havelock Charge, 4 m., 28 yrs. . . 368
Hawera Charge, 4 m., 17 yrs. .. 392
Hawke's Bay Presbytery , . 366
Hay, Mr. E. .. .. 140-1,352
Hay, Rev. P. S., C.S., 1 c, 4^ yrs.
315, 331
Hay, Rev. G., C.S., 1 c, 1 yr. . . 383
Headship of Christ . . . . 9
Headrick, Rev. John, F.C. . . 332
Hill, Rev. Jas., U.P.C, 4 c, 31^ yra.
83, 328, 330, 331, 355
Hogg, Rev. D., U.P.C, 1 c, 13yrs.
53, 195 6, 386
Hogg, Rev. W., I.P.C, 2 c,
12 yrs. 111,147-9,163,186,203,
357, 383
Hokitika Gold Rush .. ..171
Hokitika Charge, 4 m., 28J yrs.
171-81, 184, 381
Hope, Rev. J. W., F.C, 1 c,
2J yrs. . . . . 342, 343
400
INDEX OF NAMES AND SUBJECTS.
Page.
Horner, Rev. C. W., I. P.O., 2 c,
8 yrs. . . . . 334, 857, 358
Hunterville Charge, 1 m., 5^ yrs 393
Hutson, Rev. B., N.Z., 4 c,
12i yrs. 314, 315, 327, 335, 394
Button, Mr. P. W. .. ..161
Hutt Charge, 6 m., 25i yrs. 52,342
Influence of the Presbyterian
Church . . . . . . 16
Inglis, Rev. John, R.P.C.
45, 47, 76, 287, 325
Inglis, Rev. G. B., COS., 1 c.
6 yrs. . . . . 314, 357
Instrumental Music Question . . 225
Irwin, Rev. H., I.P.C, 1 o., 6| yrs. 363
Jamieson, Rev. D,, C.S., 1 c,
IJyrs. .. .. .,352
"JaneGifford" .. ..57
Johnstone, Rev. H. W., F.C., 1
c, 10 yrs., .. ..370
Jolly, B.A., Mr. Isaac, F.C. and
N.Z. .. .. ..390
Jones, Rev. G., I.C, 1 c, 12 yrs. 322
Kaiapoi Charoe, 4 m., 34^ yrs . . 352
Kaikoura Charge, 1 m., 19 yrs.,
144, 375
Kelly, Rev. H., N.Z. and C.O.S.
2 c., 7 yrs. ..314,339,377
Kent Terrace Charge, 1 m.,
12J yrs. . . . . . . 348
Killen, Rev. J. M., I.P.C, 2 c,
4i yre. . . . . 327, 331
Kirkland, Rev. Jas., C.O.S., 1 c,
3 yrs. 185, 314, 381
Kirton, Rev. W., C.S., 2 c„
21^ yrs. . . 48, 145, 341, 352
Knox Charge, Auckland, 1 m.,
lOmths. .. .. ..339
Kumara . . . . 190, 219
Kumara Charge, 4 m., 18J yrs. 383
Lamb, Dr. R., . . 291-93
Lawrie, Rev. Jas., U.P.C, 1 o.,
2f yrs. .. .. ..346
Lem, Mr., .. ., .. 304
Leeston and Brookside Charge
2 m., 262 yrs. . . . . 356
Fask.
Lewis, Rev. H.J., I.C, 1 c, 3 yrs. 370
Lincoln and P. Charge, 7 m.,
261 yrs. . . . . 160, 355
Lindsay, Rev. Jas., 1 c, 1 yr. . . 346
Lindsay, Rev. G., F.C. and N.Z.,
1 c, 6iyr3, .. 315,376
Loyalty to the Word of God . . 2
Loyalty to the British Throne and
Constitution . . . . 224
Lymburn, Rev. Jas., F.C. and
N.Z., 1 c, 9|yrs. .. 371
Lyttelton Charge, 6 m., 31 J yrs.
145, 151, 354
Macdonald, Rev. T., F.C and
N.Z., 3 c„ 12yr3, .. 391,392
Macdonald, Rev. John, F.C. and
N.Z. ,2 c., 7 yrs. .. 335, 338
Macdonald, Rev. C, F.C, 2 c,
5|^yrs. .. .. ..390
Macdonald, Mr. W. K. . . 127
Macfarlane, Rev, John, C.S., 1 c,
4| yrs. 20, 26, 27, 31-42, 89, 340
Mackellar, Rev. J., C.S., 2 c,
2| yrs. . . . . 315, 365
Mackenzie, Rev. A., C.S., 1 c,
2 yrs. . . . . 329, 374
Mackenzie, Rev. J. H., C.O.S. ,
2 c., 9iyrs., .. 314,355,372
Mackenzie Country . . . . 160
Mackenzie County Charge, 2 m.,
7|yr8 ..379
Mackie, Rev. J., U.P.C. and E.P.C,
2 c, 6| yrs. 327, 364
Mackie, Rev. R., N.Z., 1 c„ 2 yrs. 379
Mackintosh, Rev. E., C.O.S., 1 c,
IJyrs. .. .. ..377
Macky, Rev. John, I.P.C, 1 c,
26^ yrs. . . 74-7, 205, 320
Macky, Mr. T., .. ..327
Macleod, Rov. Dr. N., .. 18
Macniool, Rev. R, F., C.S., 2 c,
34 yrs. .. 119-21,329,390
Mahurangi Charge, 1 m., 42| yrs.
79, 81, 324
Malvern Charge, 2 m., 19J yrs. . . 359
Mandeno, Rev. Mr. . . . . 336
Maori Mission . . 300-3
INDEX OF NAMES AND SUBJECTS.
401
Page.
Manaia Charge, 2 m., 7 yrs. . . 393
Mangare Charge, 1 m., IJ yrs. .. 338
Mansfield, Mr. . . . . 292
Marjoribanks, Mr. . . . , 28
Marriage with a Deceased Wife's
Sister .. .. ..234
Martin, Rev. D., I.P.C. and N.Z.,
Ic, 5i yrs. . . . . 394
Martin, M.L.C., Dr. . . . . 39
Martin, Rev. Jas., . . . . 335
Marton Charge, 3 m., 30 yrs. . . 390
Mason, Rev. P., F.C., 3 c, 3J yrs.
327, 888
Masacres by the Maoris . . 22
Masses, Elevation of the . . 7
Masterton Charge, 6 m., 29J yrs. 343
Maxwell, Rev. Jas., I.C, 1 c,
16J yrs. . . . . . . 359
McAra, Rev. John, F.C., 1 c.
11 yrs. .. .. 314,369
McAra, Rev. W., F.C. and N.Z.,
Ic, 19 yrs. .. ..375
McCalium, Rev. A., F.C, 1 c,
5j^yrs. .. .. ..330
MoCallum, Rev. N., F.C, 1 c,
9 yrs. . . 335, 358. 359, 393
McCaw, Mr. Jas., .. .. 350
McCully, Rev. R.. N.Z., 1 c.
If yrs. . . . . 315, 357, 367
Mcintosh, Rev. Joshua, F.C, 4 c,
12 yrs. . . 379, 355, 357, 382
Mcintosh, Rev. A., F.C, 1 c,
3 yrs, . . . . . . 326
McGowan, Rev. W., U.P.C, 2 c,
10| yrs. . . 160, 342, 355
McGregor, Rev, W., F.C, 2 c,
9 yrs. . . . . 352, 367
McGregor, Rev. R., F.C and
N.Z., 2 c, 12^ yrs. 353, 391, 392
McKee, Rev, D., I.P.C,, 1 c,
6 mths. . . . . 360-2
McKee, Rev. Jas., I.P.C. and
N.Z., 2 c, 17 yrs. 331, 376
McKenzie, Rev. John, N.Z., 1 c,
3J yrs. . . . . 331, 350
McKenzie, Rev. P. J., F.C, 1 c,
2 yrs. .. .. ..330
330
1 c.
1 c.
367
364
.. 206
.. 99
1 c,
322, 339
Page.
McKerrow, Mr, Jas. . . . . 390
McKinney, Rev. R., I.P.C, 1 c,
421 yrs. . . 79-81, 203, 325
McLean, Rev. R., F.C, 1 c,
IJ yrs. . . . . 374, 370
McLean, Rev. A., I.C. and P.O.,
Canada, 3 c, lOJ yrs. 322, 329
McLennan, Rev. D., N.Z., 2 c,
9J yrs. . . . . 352, 378, 379
McLennan, Rev. A., F.C. and N.Z.,
3 c, 14f yrs. . . 331, 364, 393
McLeod, Rev. Norman 86, 321
McLeod, M.D., Rev. John, Vic-
toria, 1 c, 7 mths.
McMichael, Rev. J., I.P.C,
5 yrs.
McNeil, Rev. D., I.P.C,
1| yrs. . .
McNicol, Mrs.
McRae, Mr. G.
McRae, Rev. W., F.C,
11 yrs. . .
Milne, Rev, Jas., C,0,S„ 1 c„ 1 yr.
314, 320
Minimum Stipend . . . . 227
Mitchell, Rev. J. M., F.C, 1 c.
2Jyrs. .. .. ..338
Moir, Rev. John, F.C, 1 c, 14 yrs.
49, 125, 131, 343
Monro, Rev. G, B., F.C, 1 c,
21Jyrs, .. .. ..334
Monro, Rev. P. R., F.C and N.Z.,
4 c, 13J yrs. 358, 360, 365, 384
Morice, Rev. G., F.C., 2 c, 7| yrs.
334, 366, 369, 381, 383
Morris, Rev. G., CS., 11 mths. . . 331
Morrison, Rev. A. S., N.Z., 2 c,
5 yrs. .. .. 371,377
Morrison, Rev. R. C, CO,S., 1 c„
2 yrs.
Mount Egmont
Mueller, Mr. . .
Muir, Rev, J. S., CS
6 yrs.
Murray, Rev. H. M., F,C„ 1 c,
19 yrs, . .
Murray, Rev, C, F.C, 2c.,
lO.iyrs. .. 289-90,349,393
314, 352
116
180
341
392
1 c.
402
INDEX OF NAMES AND SUBJECTS.
Napieb Charoe, 5
Neil, Rev. S. J.,
18|yrs. ..
Nelson Presbytery
Nelson Settlement
Nelson Charge, 3
P.\GE,
m., 37^ yrs.
114, 11.5, 366
I.P.C, 2 c,
331, 3.32
..372
. . 88
m., 49| yrs.
88-106, 372
1 c,
.. 391
Neville, Kev. Jas., N.Z
2 yrs.
New Plymouth Charge, 5 m.,
12|yrs. .. .. 116-21,390
Ngaruawahia Charge, 2 m., If yrs. 333
Nicbol, Rev. W.,F.C. and N.Z.,
2 c, 7 vrs. 315, 368, 369, 370
Nicholson, Rev. T. D., F.C., 2 c,
16 yrs. . . . . y.5-109, 372
Norrie, Rev. T., F.C., 1 c,
43^ yrs. . . . . 78, 216, 267
Norrie, Rev. T. A., N Z., 1 c ,
4^ yrs. . . . . 333, 374
North Belt Charge, 3 m., 16| yrs. 360
Numerical Strength of Preeby-
terianism . . . . 15
OoG, Rev. C.S., C.S., Ic, 26Jyrs. 341-2
Onehunga Charge, .5 m., 34f yrs.
325, 330
Opotiki Charge, 2 m., 19 yrs . . 334
Osborne, Rev. S. S., N.Z., 1 c,
4^ yrs. . . . . . . 390
Otahuhu Charge, 2 m., 41 yrs.,
75-7, 320
"Outlook" .. .. ..281
Pahiatca Charge, 1 m., 4^ yrs. 3-50
Palmerstnn North Charge, 2 m.,
14 yrs. .. .. .. 391
Panton, Rev. A. G., F.C., 1 t.,
If yrs. ..
64-8, 319
Papakura Charge, 1 m.
43i yrs.
78, 79, 322
Parishes, Undefined . .
191-4
Papanui and Belfast
3 m., 8 yrs.
Charge,
.. 358
Parity of Ministers
.. 3
Pastorate, Average
.. 312
Patea Charge, 1 m., 2 yrs.
393
P.\0E.
Paterson, Rev. Jas., F.C. and E.P.C.,
1 c, 30| yrs. 251, 267, 344-5
Paterson, Rev. J. G., C.O.S., 2 c,
14J yrs. . . . . 314, 366, 369
Paton, Rev. Dr. . . 295, 298-9
Petone Charge, 1 m., 9| yrs. . . 349
" Philip Laing" .. ..98
Philip, Rev. W. H., F.C, 2 c,
5i yrs. . . . . 350, 393
Picton Charge, 5 m., 18| yrs. . . 374
Pleasant Point Charge, 4 m.,
17iyrs. .. .. ..378
Port Aburiri and M. Charge, 4 m.,
14Jyrs. .. .. ..367
Porter. Rev. R. J., I.P.C, 1 c,
3^ yrs. . . . . 315, 356
Press and the Church . . 273-84
Probationer, Troubles of a . . 199
Property, Church . . 306-10
Pukekohe and P. Charge, 3 ra.,
17 yrs. ,. .. ..336
Raebtjrn, Rev. W., CS. and N.Z.,
1 c, 14 yrs. . . . . 369
Rakaia Charge, 2 m., 13 J yrs. . . 359
Ramsay, Rev. P., F.C, 1 c,
2 yrs. .. .. 31.5,383
Rangiora Charge, 4 m., 12 yrs. . . 365
Reef ton Charge, 2 m., 9 J yrs. . . 384
Reid, Mr. W. S. . . . . 307
Remuera Charge, 1 m., 21| yrs. 338
Renwick, Dr. . . . . 100
Ritchie, Rev. R., C.S., 1 c,
5 mths. .. .. ..349
Riddle, Rev. P. J., F.C. and N.Z ,
4 c, 19| yrs. 330, 359, 369, 374
Riding, Clerical . . 196-8
Ring, Mr. J. . . ' . . . . 183
Riwaka Charge, 2 m., 4J yrs. . . 373
Robb, W. 0., I.P.C, 2 c,
23^ yrs. . . . . 370, 373
Roborlson, Rev. T. F., F.C, 1 c,
93 yrs. . . . . . . 334
Roby, Rev. G. Y.. F.C, 1 c, 2iyrs. 327
Rodger, Rev. D. D , C.H. and N.Z ,
3c.,16yr8. .342, -iirjS, 365, 367, 373
Root. Rev. W. U., F.C, 2 c,
8i yre. . . . . 369, 382, 385
INDEX OF NAMES AND SUBJECTS.
403
Page.
Koss .. .. 186-9
Robs, Rev. J., F.C., 2 c, 31| yrs.
267, 389
Runeiman, Rev. D. W., C.S., 1 e.,
11^ yrs. .. .. ..334
Russell, Rev. A., 1 c, 3J yrs.
373, 374
Rutherford, Mr G. . . . . 353
Ryburn, Rev. R. M., N.Z., 2 c,
8^ yrs. . . . . 869, 388
Savage, Mr. J. . . . . 183
Scorgie, Rev. W., C.O.S., N.Z.,
I c, 5 yrs., . . 314, 315, 363
Scott, Rev. T., F.C., 3 c, 7| yrs.
332, 333
Scott, Mr. A... .. 173,180
Scholarship Endowment Scheme 342
Sefton Charge, 5 m., 10^ yrs. . . 357
Shepherd, Rev. A., F.C., 2 c,
14J yrs. . . . . 367, 368
Sherrififs, Rev. W., F.C., 3 c,
15 jrs. . . 368, 373, 374, 375
Shirer, Rev. W., U.P.C, 1 c,
lOf yrs. . . . . . . 348
Sidey, Rev. Dr., U.P.C, 1 c,
II yrs. . . . . 267, 366
Simpson, Rev. J. M., I.P.C. and
N.Z., 2 0., 4| yrs. 358, 360, 385
Skinner, Rev. J., C.O.S., 1 c,
4 yrs. .. .. ..314
Slocombe, Rev. S., I.C., 1 c,
3iyrs. .. .. ...363
Smellie, Rev. J. B., F.C., 1 c,
2^ yrs. .. .. 315,365
Smith, Rev. W., F.C., 2 c, 2Jyrs.
333, 335
Sommerville, Rev. R., U.P.C. and
N.Z., 2 c, 23J yrs. 329, 330, 337
Soutar, Rev. A. C, 1 c, 11 mths. 374
SouUibridge Charge, 2ra., 15|yrs. 363
Spence, Kev. J. U., F.C. and N.Z.,
1 c, 8 niths. . . 314, 370
Springburn Charge, 4 m., 14| yrs. 364
Sprott, Mr. M. . . . . 177
St. Andrew's Charge, 2 m., 4 yrs. 379
St. Andrew's, Ch.eh.,3m.,40iyrs.
127-38, 351
Page.
St. Andrew's, Wei., 4 m., 50 yrs.
31-51, 340
St. Andrew's, Auck., 4 m., 44| yrs.
57-70, 249, 319
St. David's, Auck., 2 m., 15^ yrs. 336
St. John's, Wei., 2 m., 44| yrs.
51, 815, 343
St. James', Auck., 3 m., 36 yrs. 327
St. James', Wei., 2 m., llf yrs., 847-8
St. Luke's, Auck., 1 m., 21| yrs. 838
St. Paul's, Ch.ch., 3 m., 32^ yis.
143, 358
St. Peter's, Ch.ch., 3 m., loj yrs. 363
St. Peter's, Auck., 1 m., 13| yrs. 337
St. Stephen's, Auck., 2 m.,21|yrs. 884
Steele, Rev. D. J., I.P.C, 1 c,
lijyrs. .. .. ..321
Stewart, Rev. T., F.C and X.Z.,
2 c., 2Jyrs. 332,388
Stewart, Rev. John, F.C. and
N.Z., 1 c, 2 yrs. ..
Siewart, Rev. R., N.Z.,
Sfyrs
Stewart, Rev. W., U.P.C,
11 yrs. . .
Stipend, Average
Stowell, Rev. G. K., F.C.
346
2 c,
370, 882
1 c,
.. 390
.. 227
and
N.Z., 2 c, 5i yrs., 365, 874, ,S80, 388
Strang, Mr. R. . . . . 31
Stratford Charge, 1 m., 4^ yrs. . . 394
Stubbs, Rev. F., F.C, 2 c, 3 yrs.
358, 398
Sustentation Fund . . . . 252
Sydenham Charge, 4 m., 18 yrs. 360
Tabulated Facts and Figures 811-15
Tait, Rev. A. M., F.C, 1 c, 2 yrs. 832
Taranaki Settlement . . 116-8
Tauranga Charge, 5 m., 17 yrs. . . 831
Taylor, Mr. . . . . . . 54
Taylor, Rev. J. U., 1 c, 3^ yrs,
323, 332, 837
Temperance . . . . 218, 226, 240
Temuka Charge, 4 m., 24|yrs. 162, 377
Tenure of Ministerial Office . . 237
Thames Charge, 3 m., 29^ yrs. . . 331
Thorn, Rev. John, F.C, 2 c,
8 yrs. .. 55,119,342,388
404
INDEX OF NAMES AND SUBJECTS.
Page.
Thompson, Rev. A., F.C., 2 c,
4J yrs. . . . . 330, 393
Thompson, Rev. A., F.C. and N.Z.,
Ic, 9|yrs. .. 349,393
Thompson, Rev. W., a Seceder,
1 c, 1 yr. 339, 392
Timaru Charge, 3 m., 31f yrs.
158, 162, 166-69, 376
Timaru Presbytery , . . . 376
Todd, Mrs. .. ' .. 150,355
Todd, Rev. A. B., N.Z. and C.O.S.,
1 c, 9 yrs. . . . . 378
Torry. Rev. Jas., U.P.C, 1 c,
5| yrs. . . . . 392, 393
Totara Flat Charge, 1 m., 2f yrs. 385
Tout, Rev. R., I.C, 1 c, IJ yrs. 357
Treadwell, Rev. J., F.C, 1 c.
20:1 yrs. . . . . 284, 387
Treadsvell, Rev. A. H., N.Z., 1 c,
7 yrs. .. .. ..355
Trust Funds . . . . . . 310
Turakina Charge, 5 m., 39| yrs. 388
Union of Northern and Southern
Churches . . 223-4, 314
University Honours . . . . 271
Virtue, Mr. D. W.
.. 185
Waddell, Rev. Dr., I.P.C. 1 c,
l.J yrs. . . 281-2, 315, 355
Waihenga Charge, 4 m., 13J yrs. 346
Waikato West Charge, 4 m.,
Hi yrs. .. .. ..334
Waikarl Charge, 2 m., 3 yrs. . . 365
Waimate Charge, 4 ra., 23 yrs. . . 376
Waipawa Charge, 6 m., 23 J yrs. 370
Waipu Charge, 4 m., 38 yrs. 72, 321
Waipu North Charge, 1 m., 1 yr. 339
Waipukurau Charge, 4 m., 26J yrs. 367
Wairarapa South Charge, 2 m,,
lOiyrs. .. .. ..349
Wairau Massacre . . 93, 209-11
Wairoa Charge, 3 m., 18| yrs. .. 369
Waitaki Charge . . , . 380
Waiuku Charge. m., 24^ yrs. . . 329
Page.
Wallace, Rev. J., F.C, 2 c,
Hi yrs. . . . . 327, 330
Wallis, Rev. Dr. . . . . 336
Walls, Rev. T., C.S., 1 c, 1 yr. . . 370
Wanganui Presbytery . . . . 386
Wanganui Charge, 4 m., 44 yrs.
53, 386
Watt, Rev. W., F.C. . . 287-91, 294
Waverley Charge, 5 m., 22J yrs. 391
Webster, Rev. G., F.C, 1 c,
ll^yis. . . . . 267, 351
Wellington Presbytery. . .. 340
Wellington Founded . . . . 30
West, Rev. R. S., F.C, 1 c.
Hi yrs. .. .. ..337
West, Rev. W., N.Z., 2 c., 1.3^ yrs.
363, 383, 385
Westbrooke.Rev.B. J.,M.C, 3 c.
18 yrs. . . .. 359, 364, 382
Westland Presbytery . . . . 381
Westland Settlement . . . . 170
Westminster Assembly . . 5
Westport Charge, 4 m., 141 yrs. 384
Whangarei Charge, 7 m., 39 yrs.
311. 326
White, Rev. W., I.P.C, 1 c, 5 yrs.
315, 379
White, Rev. J., C.O.S., 1 c, 7 vrs.
314, 379
Wilson, Rev. John, I.P.C, 1 c,
liyrs. .. .. ..389
Wilson, Rev. Jas., F.C, 1 c, 1 yr. 355
Wilson, Mr. Jas. . . . . 55
Wilson, Mr. W. . . . . 128
Wood, Rev. R., N.Z. and CO.S.,
1 c, 8i yrs. . . 314, 350
Woodville Charge, 3 m., 6 yrs. . . 370
Worboys, Rev. C, M.C, 2 c,
11 yrs. . . . . 329, 335
Wright, Rev. A. M., CS. and N.Z.,
2 c, 20 yrs. . . 356, 392
Wylie, Rev. R., E.P.C, 1 c,
ij yrs. . . . . . . 326
Whyte, Rev. A„ U.P.C, 1 c. 1 yr. 349
YuLt, Mr. Alex..
56
ILLUSTRATIONS.
I.-AUCKLAND.
409
mm
J.W.LKHf(o.r|,^_
411
412
412a
413
APAKU
415
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417
419
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425
427
429
431
433
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439
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441
443
445
447
III.-CANTERBURY.
451
453
455
457
1 1 i II VMii I iwa^
459
461
SESSIOS OF ST. PAULS. CHBISTCHUBCH.
465
407
469
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479
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535
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547
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IX.-PIONEERS.
553
555
557
559
561
X.-MISSIONS.
565
567
569
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573
Printed and Bound by
J. WII.KIE & CO., PRINTERS, ENGRAVERS, BOOKBINDERS, &c.,
DUNEDIN, N.Z.
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